GLOUCESTER: Antoinette M. “Toni” (Filetto) Baptiste, 94, formerly of Church Street, died Wednesday evening, April 18, 2007 in the Seacoast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. She was the wife of the late Joaquin S. Baptiste, who died in 1972.
Born in Boston on February 15, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Cosmo and Grace (Randazza) Filetto. She came to Gloucester as a young child and attended St. Ann’s School.
After raising her children, she became a certified nurse working for the late June Cahoon at the former Gloucester Manor and Hillcrest Nursing Homes. She also did private duty work for many years. She was a member of the Mother of Grace Club.
She is survived by four children, Mary Jean Verga of Gloucester, Joseph C. Baptiste of Louisburg, NC, Philip R. Baptiste of Greenville, MS, Geraldine Grace Souza of Gloucester, fifteen grandchildren, Joanne Giovinco, Kim Rogers, Dominic Verga, Philip Verga, Coreen Araujo, Joel Lubonski, Gayla DeCoste, Kendra King, Bridgete Souza, Kimberley Thomson, Gina Baptiste, Terri Chustz, Amy-Jo Rutland, Stephanie Belcher, J. Trey Yannone and twenty-six great-grandchildren, two great-great-granddaughters, three sisters and a brother-in-law, Frances Scola, Rose Linquata and Margaret and Mossimo Ballarin all of Gloucester and many nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Teresa Ann Truelove, her daughter-in-law, Christine Baptiste, two granddaughters, Lisa Balestraci and Stephanie Souza, three sisters, Vincie Pallazola, Ann Parisi and Mary Marcantonio, a brother, Philip Filetto and a son-in-law, Philip Verga.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday in the Holy Family Parish, St. Ann Church at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Monday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 4 to 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery.