Antonina Lucania

Antonina Lucania (née Panzeca), age 100, a Naperville resident since 2017, formerly of Chicago, Carol Stream and Bartlett, IL, passed away on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at her home. She was born on March 15, 1925, in Caccamo, Italy.

Beloved wife of the late Antonino "Tony" Lucania, whom she married September 11, 1965 and who preceded her in death on March 16, 2017, loving mother of Angela (Tony Andrews) Lucania Andrews of Naperville, adored grandmother of Rebecca (Richard) Vizcayno and Mia Hernandez and step-grandmother of Sarah and Kaitlyn Andrews, devoted daughter of the late Natale and Anna (nee Rizzo) Panzeca, dear sister of the late Rosa, Vincent, Josephine, George, Maria, Concetta and Consiglia, fond aunt, great-aunt, great-great aunt and friend of many.

Antonina Panzeca Lucania was born in Caccamo, Italy in 1925. She was second from the youngest of eight children to Anna Rizzo and Natale Panzeca. She had five sisters and two brothers. They were a close, joyful, and loving Italian family with many traditions that she passed down to her own family. She was affectionately called Zia Nene, Nonna, or Nina to all who loved and adored her.

Antonina grew up in her family's home on "la strada granni" (the big/main street of her town), making and selling cheese, helping with the animals and land, knitting socks, and doing embroidery. She would also help her sisters, Maria and Consiglia, with sewing and helping with the family. She, Maria, and Consiglia (the three musketeers) were caregivers to their father until his death in 1964.

In 1965, she went to Tuscany to visit her sister Concetta and her family. There in Filetole, she met her husband, Antonino (Tony) Lucania. Antonina told Tony that she was moving to America to join the majority of her siblings that had moved there; if he wanted to marry, he would have to agree to go. Within three months, they were married in Caccamo, Sicily. In the summer of 1966, they journeyed to America. The next year, their only child, Angela, was born. Antonina was devoted to her daughter and her family. Antonina was a wonderful mother and Nonna.

She was a strong-willed, hard-working woman with many aspirations, and worked diligently to achieve them. Antonina taught herself to be a handy, self- sufficient, financially wise woman. She always wanted better for her family and gave so much of herself to those she loved. Antonina was spiritual and devoted to her faith, generous, loving, caring, and kind…always showing concern for others and always the first to be there when needed. Family was SO important to her, and she had an endless amount of love to give.

Antonina and Tony had an amazing garden full of fruit trees and vegetables that they loved sharing with friends and family. She loved baking, cooking, and feeding people. She was an amazing cook and would create a variety of delicious meals without any recipes and with any ingredients she had from the garden. She created all her flavorful food without hot spices, especially not oregano. Antonina was known for making the best pizza, pastas, fritattas, lasagna, and pane di spagna cookies.

Antonina always lived close to her daughter and her granddaughters, Rebecca and Mia Jessica. They were her life. There was nothing she would not do for them. Antonia was such a strong and inspirational woman, sharing her faith and culture with her granddaughters and all who knew her. After her husband Tony died, she lived with her daughter, son-in-law (Tony), and her granddaughters. They created many memories during those eight years together. She loved birthdays and happily celebrated her 95th and 100th birthday with family.

Antonina passed peacefully listening to stories, music, and laughter. She was surrounded by Angela, Tony, Rebecca, Richard (Rebecca's husband), Mia Jessica, and her nieces, Anna Castellese and Joanne Trakszelis.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 3:00-8:00 PM at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St, Naperville.

OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE WISHES OF ANTONINA, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM WEARING BLACK.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 20, 10:30 AM at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1215 Modaff Rd, Naperville, IL 60540, (630) 355-4545.

Entombment will follow at All Saints Cemetery, 700 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016, (847) 298-0450.

For more information, please call (630) 355-0213 or visit www.friedrich-jones.com