Antonia (Martone) Ventriglia

Antonia “Antonietta” (Martone) Ventriglia, 92, of Worcester, a devoted, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away with her loved ones by her side, Friday, February 4, 2022.

Antonia was born in San Nicola, La Strada, province of Caserta, Italy. She was one of four daughters of Salvatore and Concetta (Grilla) Martone. Raised in Italy, Antonia married Antonio Ventriglia, and began to raise their family.  In 1972, they immigrated their family to Worcester, MA and began their life there. Trained as a seamstress, she worked at Nancy Howard Company, Worcester Coat Company, and Worcester Knitting Company before retiring in 1991. She was also a member of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union.

Antonia leaves behind her loving family; children; Giuseppe “Joe” Ventriglia, Salvatore “Sal” Ventriglia and his wife Louise, Anna Concetta Smarra and her husband Domenic; grandchildren, Luisa Palladino, Antonietta MacKenzie and her husband Collin, Stanley Palladino, Mark Ventriglia, Elisa Taylor and her husband Christopher, Stephanie Glennon and her husband Daniel, Cristina and Nicholas Smarra; three great grandchildren, Ava and Ella MacKenzie and Calvin Taylor, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family in the United States and Italy.  In addition to her parents, Antonia was predeceased by her husband Antonio, daughter Giovanna Palladino who passed away this past Christmas day, Giovanna’s husband Martino, and three sisters, Marianna Dellomo, Allessandrina Amoroso and Addolorata Smarra.

As a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Antonia guided her family with love, dedication, faith, and a strong dedication to her Italian heritage. Her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were the center of her world. She was always ready to care for her grandchildren.  The grandchildren loved the sleepovers at Nana’s house, where they could watch her favorite shows and episodes of “The Golden Girls” and “Little House on the Prairie”.  She welcomed neighbors, friends and family with open arms, ready to serve them espresso, “taralli” and homemade bread.  Antonia’s home was the hub of Italian food, whether baking cookies with her sisters or preparing a spread for everyone to gather around. She embraced each visitor with a smile and a welcome in Italian and her trademark “broken” English.  She was the backbone of her family and her family will carry that forward.  As a devout Catholic, Antonia was a member of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church and attended mass regularly.  She and her sister had “reserved” seating in pew number #2 on the left side of the center aisle. For “Antonietta”, she belonged in the front row.  She was steadfast in making sure her family attended church with her. She literally “beat the drums” every Sunday morning to make sure the family was up in time for church.  Antonia enjoyed tending her garden, displaying her prized gladiolas, dahlias and peonies.  Above all Antonia cherished the time spent with her family and relished in the banter and allowing the grandchildren to be the center of attention. She genuinely believed that faith, family, and friends were the most important parts of life and she had room in her heart for everyone she met. Her passing leaves a hole in our hearts, but her loving and caring soul will not be forgotten. 

The Ventriglia family would like to thank the staff of Christopher House, notably Gilda, Marta, Steven and Elizabeth for the care, comfort and compassion they gave to their mother. 

A period of calling hours will be held, Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., followed by a procession to Our Lady of Mount Carmel –at Our Lady of Loreto Church, 37 Massasoit Road where her celebration of Christian burial mass will be held at 12 noon. Entombment will be in Notre Dame Mausoleum. Flowers may be sent, or memorial remembrances made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601