Antoinette Menario

She was born June 13, 1936 in Portland to James and Lucy (Cavallaro) Napolitano. She was raised on Munjoy Hill and was a 1954 graduate of Portland High School.

She married her “love until the end of time” John Menario in June 1957 and together they raised three children: Scott, Jay, and Anne Marie. They were a perfect match despite their differences: she was a devout Red Sox fan and he a Yankees fan!

Toni was naturally beautiful and elegant. She had an innate eye for style – be it fashion, interiors, or architecture. She enjoyed traveling, especially to her ancestral homeland of Italy, and she was proud to bring her entire family to Florence for a once-in-a-lifetime-trip in 2007. She had an appreciation for theatre and music; you could find her and John on the first balcony, front row, for many performances at Merrill Auditorium. A lifelong Mainer, she enjoyed all the fine dining and shopping the revitalized Old Port offered but loved equally the beaches of Pine Point and Old Orchard.

She was a talented knitter and made many exquisite hats and blankets for family, friends, and strangers.

Her greatest joy was being Mimi to her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She delighted in treating them to the experiences she never had as a child, especially the magic of Disney World. She followed their sports, hobbies, careers, and love lives with keen interest – providing unconditional support along with occasional unsolicited feedback.

She was predeceased by her husband John, two sisters and their spouses Marie (Donald) Matthews and Concetta (Byron) Rickett, sister-in-law Barbara Napolitano, and brother-in-law James Seavey.

She is survived by her children Scott (Laura) Menario, Jay (Diane) Menario, Anne Marie (Neil) Haskell, grandchildren Anthony Menario, Lexi Menario, Andrea (Chris) Liptrot, Stephanie (Nicholas) Anania, Gina (Steve) Shuleski, Emily (Dan) Ametrano, and great-grandchildren Josephine, Jack, Caroline, William, Mila, Peter, and Catherine. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Lucille and Ed Feeney, brother John Napolitano, sister-in-law Anita Seavey, and many loving nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Legacy Memory Care, The Falmouth House, Compassus Hospice, Dr. Phyllidia Ku-Ruth, and Debra Jordan for their compassionate care of Toni in her final years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program (100 Campus Dr #107, Scarborough, ME 04074), a cause she cared about deeply and fundraised for throughout much of her life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peters Catholic Church, Portland on Friday March 24th at 10:00am followed by committal services at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.

Arrangements are with Jones, Rich, & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street, Portland.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com