Carole J. Antaya

Carole Joyce Antaya, 79, of Berlin & West Hartford, passed away peacefully with her children by her side on June 8, 2024. Daughter of the late Arthur and Katherine (Rzewuski) Antaya, born and raised in Hartford, Carole worked as a bookkeeper for many years for Friendly's Restaurant.
Carole, the strongest woman her family has ever known persevered through life with unwavering determination and the ability to overcome any challenge that came her way. Regardless of life's challenges her door was always open, with many leaving calling her "ma". She loved to do crafts, sew and spend time with family.
A favorite time of year for her was Easter when she would make pierogis with her entire family, she loved to cook and cooking with family together combined two of her favorite things.
She was a faithful watcher of Days of Our Lives from the very first episode, and it became a part of her children, their spouses, grandchildren and all those that knew her lives as well.
Predeceased by her sister, Barbara Garneau, she leaves behind her son Matthew Catanzaro Jr, wife Maureen, daughters Carolyn (Catanzaro) Nielsen and husband Ronald, Mary Anne (Catanzaro) Perruccio and husband Michael, Rose Marie (Catanzaro) Angeli and husband Dave, Chrissy (Silva) Schock and husband Brian, her grandchildren John Catanzaro, Kevin Nielsen, Keith Nielsen, Nicolas Angeli, Anthony Catanzaro, Alexander Angeli, Kayla (Angeli) Lockwood and David Angeli, great-grandchildren Jude Nielsen, Jack Lockwood, Will Lockwood, and Olivia Angeli. Goddaughter Cathy Tome, beloved friends Cathy and Sal Mendoza, along with many nieces, nephews and friends.
Carole also leaves behind numerous close friends of her kid's, too many to list, who were as much a part of her life as her children's; she so enjoyed them all just stopping by.
She's now at peace with her parents and many loved ones that have gone before her.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, June 13th, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, followed by a funeral service at 10:00 a.m., concluding with burial services at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sandy Hook Promise at sandyhookpromise.org. To share a condolence with her family and view her obituary online, please visit www.duksa.net.