Obituaries
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Obituary for Antoinette ‘Toni' (Sparano) LaReau
Antoinette ‘Toni’ (Sparano) LaReau, of Stratford, entered peacefully into eternal rest on December 31, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Bridgeport, CT on April 20, 1933, daughter of Charles and Helen (Kopp) Sparano. She grew up in Bridgeport, attended Sheridan school and graduated from Central High School in 1951. In 1957 she married Emile and moved to Stratford, where they raised four children.
Her life was devoted to her family and her faith. A pillar of St. James Church for 65 years, she was among the first lay ministers of the eucharist and helped start the Ministry to the Sick and Shut In. She was a member of the Ladies’ Guild and the Mothers’ Circle. She spent many hours sewing costumes for various church plays, including Paradidonai, Touch and Live and Follow Me. She was an Altar Server and served as Sacristan at over 1000 funerals. She received the Diocesan St. Augustine Medal for her service to the parish.
Sunday was her favorite day, not only because she attended Mass, but because she could watch the family gather at her house and put breakfast together where as many as 20 family members and friends might show up.
She is survived by her brother John (Rita) Sparano of Chapel Hill, NC and her children David (Donna) LaReau of Stratford, Nancy (David) Tomasco of Milford, and Jeffrey (Tara) LaReau of Stratford, and her son-in-law Eddie Luciano of Westport. She was predeceased by Emile, her husband of 60 years, and her daughter Janet LaReau. She will also be missed by her 13 grandchildren, Janet (Thomas) Dziekonski, Robert Battey, Rebecca (Kenneth) Sampieri, LeAnn Battey, Michele (Amanda) Caggiano, Rita (Cody) Luettger, Laura Battey, Stephen (Courtney Bayruns) Tomasco, Katherine Tomasco, Elizabeth (Keith) Berggren, Allison (Curtis Mariani) LaReau, Jacquelyn LaReau, Margaret LaReau, 7 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Also left to mourn her passing are Mary, Sissy and Derek and her “other family” at the Blue Sky Diner.
Friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Father Thomas Lynch, on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. by meeting directly in Saint James Church, 2070 Main St., Stratford.
Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Stratford.
Friends may visit with her family Thursday, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in The William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St., Stratford.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, 725 Park Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604, https://bridgeportrescuemission.org.
For additional information or to leave a condolence message, visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com.
To plant a tree in memory of Antoinette ‘Toni' (Sparano) LaReau, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Thursday
5
Jan
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
William R. McDonald Funeral Home
2591 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial
Friday
6
Jan
11:00 AM
Saint James Church
2070 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Interment
Friday
6
Jan
12:45 PM
Union Cemetery
Temple Court
Stratford, CT 06615
Memorial Contribution
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