Obituary of Antoinette Gesualdi

On October 21, 2019 Antoinette Paulina Nicolai Gesualdi passed away and returned to the loving arms of her husband, mother and father. Born February 9, 1937 to Angelo Nicolai and Antoinette Nicolai, Antoinette entered the world a few months early, at a time when hospitals were not prepared to care for premature infants. The delivering doctor brought Antoinette home to nurse and care for her until her health stabilized. Just 6 months later, Antoinette's mother passed away. Antoinette was then raised by dear family friends, the Scarpone family, who cared for her until she was three years old. At that time, her father remarried Filomena Larobina and they were now able to raise her together as a family. Her early life was filled with the love of friends and family, who cared for her through times of need. A legacy she lived throughout her life. Her shelves were brimming with photographs of family, friends, and all those whom she loved and cared for throughout her 82 years. On July 1, 1961 she married her sweetheart John Gesualdi at Our Lady of Pompeii in Pleasantville, New York. Together they raised 2 remarkable sons, Mark and David. Sadly, after 31 years together as husband and wife, John suddenly passed away on April 9, 1992 leaving the family brokenhearted. She was renowned for her cooking and baking skills and took great pride in the preparation and sharing of her beloved treats – fruit cakes, cookies, tadales and more. Her home was the goody shop for her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Aside from following her beloved Yankees and keeping track of their win/loss scores on her favorite Yankee calendar, she also enjoyed watching her afternoon "stories" after having worked on her daily Jumble puzzle in the morning. Most evenings were spent with her friends at the Woodcrest Lane "sorority house" playing a few hands of gin rummy. On Friday mornings, she would enjoy playing Bingo at the Fox Senior Citizen Center. Antoinette was a caring and loyal friend who never missed a birthday or anniversary. She was Hallmark's most dependable customer, always finding the perfect card to send. She meticulously kept track of birthdays and special dates to celebrate those singular days for those lucky enough to know and be loved by her. Regardless of their ages, it was a safe bet that every Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter or Thanksgiving Day she would send a card to each and every one of her grandsons with five dollars neatly tucked away within it. While she was kind and good natured, she was also strong and enduring. Though life didn't deal her a fair hand in many ways – losing her mother and husband at a young age – she persisted, joyfully and with a tremendous work ethic. Antoinette was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. Loved ones that cleared the path for Antoinette are her father Angelo, mother Antoinette, stepmother Filomena, brother Orlando, sister Jean, and finally her beloved husband John. Loved ones that will miss Antoinette until they meet again are her sons and their families, Mark and Laura Gesualdi and their sons Matthew, Nicholas, and Christian of Bradenton, FL and David and Elizabeth Gesualdi and their sons Jarrod and Alec of New Milford, CT. In addition, she leaves behind brothers and their spouses John and Vita Nicolai, Frank and Allene Nicolai, and Richard and Lynne Nicolai as well as several nieces and nephews who always brought her great joy. Antoinette has been a Mount Kisco resident for more than 50 years and devoted parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi. Friends may call the Oelker- Cox & Sinatra Funeral Home at 262 E. Main Street, Mount Kisco NY, on Thursday from 4:00-8:00 PM, a Funeral Mass will be on Friday at 10:00 am, at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Antoinette's final resting place will be St. Francis' Cemetery, immediately following the mass.