Antonette L. Thivierge

It was a mildly cold Friday the 24 of February 1939 and Franklin D. Roosevelt was President. The gathering storm of World War II thundered across Europe while Germany invaded Poland. Stagecoach was the most popular movie in America and Angelina and Vincenzo Fiorentino welcomed their new baby girl Antonette to their growing family. Antonette joined her three sisters Dora (deceased), Josephine and Anna and one brother Johnny (deceased) to a loving Italian immigrant family. She was born with certain handicaps. Less than 15 years earlier in 1925, the Arab Muslim Masons founded the first Mecca Temple in New York City and started the first Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. Luckily, the Shriners expanded to Springfield and Antonette was admitted. She was a vibrant energetic young girl happily enjoying the camaraderie of the Shriners. She was proud of her chance to see Trigger, the famous horse of Roy Rogers, and get on the horse’s back. She was fearless. Her handicaps did not stop her from leading a normal and exciting life. She attended Buckingham Junior High and High School of Commerce where she graduated in 1958. Antonette was fond of motorcycles and rock and roll and always wore a big smile on her face. To get her driving license, her friend welded the seat to the floorboard, as close to the steering wheel as possible and attached custom wood blocks to the car pedals. Antonette learned to drive her Ford Falcon with two feet. Her independence expanded with the freedom of the road in her own car. She worked at Sunshine Art Studios and the Robinson family, owners of Sunshine Art Studios, put Antonette in charge of all religious image inspections. Additionally her performance resulted in an incentive program for ‘packers’, giving the employees a bonus based on performance. She exceeded all others. With her pay and bonuses, she was able to purchase her own car, to schlepp around her nephew Joe, with whom she was charged with care. Her sense of humor was legendary. She also worked at Pioneer Valley Plastics and did ‘piece work’ for her nephew. At her nephew’s company, she glued dated computer paper sheets into envelopes. She made so many envelopes that she almost decided to start her own company, making envelopes out of abandoned paper. Her work ethic was exemplary. With great irony she loved birds, especially Owls. Her pet parakeets showcased her understanding on how the cage bird sings. All animals were important to her. She married Roger Thivierge August 23, 1974 after sharing their first kiss at the Capitol Movie Theatre on Main Street in Springfield. They led a happy life for close to forty-four years, until he passed away. They enjoyed many local trips together and shared a love of the Patriots, Red Sox and Bruins. She leaves many loving nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are requested to meet on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 9:30AM at New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA to proceed to the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery. Please visit her memorial page at www.nefcc.net where expressions of sympathy may be submitted. In lieu of flowers, Mass cards or plants, please make a contribution to the Springfield Shriners Children’s Hospital 516 Carew Street Springfield, Mass. 01104. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Antonette L. Thivierge.

Antonette L. Thivierge

February 24, 1939 - February 21, 2022