Antoinette Scalfri Obituary

Buon Giorno Principessa,
Yesterday was Mother's Day, the third one that you were marked "absent." (You've messed up your perfect attendance award.) Pastor Brady spoke about Timothy's faith that was first in his grandmother Lois, and his mother, Eunice and now was in him. Of course I thought of you, a most incredible mother (I knew 51 years ago when we met on an elevator, that you were special and we would be best friends and we were.) I also thought of
the rich heritage you passed from your mother, Grandma Sophie and her mother, Grandma Anna. It was faith in God that was passed down to us and for that I am forever grateful. The memories I have of You, Grandma Sophie and even the faint memories of Grandma Anna showed me a great example of God's unconditional love. There are so many other things that you've passed down to me (and Chuck), your wisdom, strength, kindness, gentleness, and on and on.
You showed us how to take nothing and make something beautiful.
Thank you for the light that you were to me. Now, I know why you loved the Thomas Kincaid paintings; they all depict a home, warm and inviting in a cold and uninviting setting. You were that warm and inviting light!
I look forward to being with you...eternally.

Love always,
Your baby girl, Jean

Hi Mom!
Tomorrow is two years that you've been in Heaven! Tyler and I were talking about how it doesn't possible that two years have passed. I think of it as just two years closer to all of us being together again!!! It is comforting to me that time has gone by so quickly. Indeed, it's still hard to accept that we can't see you or talk to you. But in the vastness of eternity, this life truly is a vapor. You certainly left an indelible mark on each of us, Mom. You have inspired me to leave a legacy, as well.
And the countdown continues...I'll see you soon!!!! --Joni

Love you still, miss you more everyday. I watched a movie called "The Five People You Meet In Heaven". When the husband gets to Heaven, he meets his wife who had passed away many, many years before him. She says to him,"You feel like you had love taken away from you. That you were cheated somehow." And he says,"I was. You died." Then she said something that will stay with me for a long, long time. She says to him, "Love never dies. It only changes forms. No, you can't touch your loved one, or tossle there hair, but it is still there. Memory becomes your companion..." I have many memories of you, Mom, and they are my wonderful friends! Until we see each other again, I will hold them close to my heart!!! Love you! Your little girl, Joni

To my "Big" Sister,

Antoinette, I miss you so much. I

try to pretend you are still there

in Colorado, but when I go to the

phone to call you I have to face the fact that you are gone. (I did call you all of the time) There are still so many things I want to say to you and tell you. It is hard for me to realize you are really gone.

I know you are in a much better place, with Annie, Mom & Dad but I still miss you.

You were the anchor of your family.

You held everything together, but with God's help and strength everyone can go on until we all meet again in heaven.

Love you and think of you all of the time.



Your "baby" Sister,

Caroline

Dear Auntie My Toni, looks like a misprint, but thats what I called you. You were a gift from God to me. When mom went to be with Jesus, God blessed me with two of the most precious "auntie-moms" in you and Auntie Curlie. You always made me feel as if I were one of your own, and made me feel special. Your concern was always for others, never thinking of yourself. Your life has been an inspiration to me. Thank you for all your love and all the times you made me laugh. I miss you so much... you are always in my heart. I love you, my sweet Auntie.

I am sorry to hear of your loss. It is because of your family and Mrs. Scalfri's gentle and loving spirit that I am serving the lord today.

Hey Grandma!

A scary thought reminded me that your not here... I am going to be 16 this month... 16! Can you believe that? I certainly can't! And I certainly don't want to believe it! I asked Mom what we were going to do for my birthday, and also brought up that we didn't do anything for little D.J.'s birthday! Mom just shook her head and said, "I don't think that is ever going to happen again, Joni." Oh how I wish you could see my 16 birthday! Oh how I wish!

We also won a basketball game the other day, and I was wishing you were there to see it! But you did see it... didn't you? Did you see that free throw I made? Or those lay ups? Or how about all those steals! You would have been horrified if you saw how badly my knees were banged up! They just hurt to sit on them!

I am going to try to get Papa to come to one of my games! It would be so much fun to have him there! And I know you'll be there... we are playing La Junta tomorrow! It's going to be such a fun game!

Love you!

Miss you!

See you tomorrow!

In the truest of love may your joys and memories sustain you during this time of grief.. May the knowing that one day you will be together for eternity keep your souls at peace.. God bless you and your dear family. In Jesus' love, Lindi (your sister in the Lord)

Dear Auntie Anne,



I don't know if you realized just how much you were loved and admired by everyone who ever had the privilege of knowing you.



You created an indelible imprint on the hearts of everyone you touched. You had a way of making everyone, children and adults alike, feel loved, special, accepted, and cherished. You possessed the most gentle, kind, tolerant, selfless, and giving spirit of anyone I've ever met. You were free with compliments and encouragement. You forgave easily.



Most of my memories of you were from my chldhood when you were living in Kenosha, WI. I lived just a mile away and would walk to your house many times for my piano lesson. You were always so patient and kind, complimenting and encouraging my fledgling efforts. You smiled easily and often; you were so easy to please.



Most amazing to me is that I never heard you raise your voice, even though you were young and raising 4 small children (this is before Joni came along years later). You delighted in their silliness, kept no record of wrongs, and calmly talked to them in private when they needed correction or a listening ear. You were so amazingly respectful and sensitive in your approach with your children, nieces, and nephews. You were truly an angel.



You are missed more than words can say. Looking forward to seeing you again someday.



Love,



Your adoring niece, Kathy Menocal (Johns)

We love you Mom,



I know that all of your children and grandchildren are a powerful living legacy. You and Dad provided me with the best wife in the world and You are the absolute greatest role model I have ever seen.



Again I say, you are the most Christ like person I have ever met.



Jean and I look at our library and see the many volumes of biblical studies and theology books that you have provided down thru the years and we wish to dedicate that library to you.



I know that you prayed earnestly for us all to find our place in God and to minister for His service. We dedicate our lives for His purpose.



I also know you prayed for my writing, so I renew my committment to write for the glory of God and to work in order to establish new believers with my writing.



And I know you prayed for my campaign for the State Legislature and it was a desire you expressed to us, to be a Christian witness before that legislative body. So today Jean and I dedicate this entire campaign in your memory and reflect back upon your prayerful guidance as our motivation in the years to come.



We shall continue in prayer together believing that God will place every child, every family, every grandchild into the absolute perfect will of God the Father.



In Christ name,



Amen

Dearest Jake and family. I just want you to know you are all in my thoughts and prayers and hope you are somewhat comforted by them. Your hearts are heavy now but soon you will be able to have a feeling of comfort knowing Antoinette is with the Lord and not suffering anymore. Someday we will all be together and be able to celebrate, appreciate and love each other better than we did here on earth. I love you Jake.

Hey Grandma,

Christmas has come and gone so quickly that I barely even noticed. Oh we missed you so very much! We were at Aunt Joni's last night, opening presents. Jessica was privledged with reading the Christmas story. You would have been proud to have seen the way she read. I sat right beside her, and while she read, I glanced up at everyone. As I scanned the room, my eyes fell on one lone, empty chair... just one. Just one.. just for you. But you weren't there to fill it. We felt your abscence most acutely yesterday. It was Christmas, but it wasn't the same and never will be the same. Maybe, some day in the far future, Christmas will once again be a joyous afair, but yet, in your absence, it can never be the same. I know you celebrate Christmas and Easter everyday where you are. Maybe you can go on unlimitless shopping sprees, buying things for your husband, kids and grandkids. And when we arrive, you will grin widely and gesture to a stack of presents taller than Mt. Everest!

But maybe, just maybe, you and your angelic family can drop in on our Christmas celebration and smile at us here.

My sweet Aunty Toni.

It's so hard to express how much I will miss her. She and Aunty Curly have filled a place in my life for the past 22 years that is unexplainable. I remember Aunty Toni calling me to thank me for a Mother's Day gift I had sent her. I just told her how much I loved her and how much she ment to me and thanked her for being there for me. She said by her being in Colorado and me being in Texas she didn't feel like she had done enough for me. I told her just knowing she was there praying for me ment so much. I called her one time and told Uncle Jake not to tell her who I was. I said "Aunty Toni, it's your favorite niece!" She replied "Cathy?", I said "No, it's Sherri!" She said "Who?" We laughed so hard. After that I would get cards addressed to "My Favorite Niece". She was so cute!! She has a special place in my heart and always will. It is hard not having her here. The only comfort I have is knowing where she is, WHO she is with, and that one day we will all be reunited. I love you Aunty Toni and miss you so much. My children will grow up knowing you and what a wonderful Aunt you were.

I love you!

Your other favorite niece!!

Sherri

I hope this will arrive in time for Christmas. I received a poem from a couple of different people entitled "Christmas In Heaven", one copy of which came with a beautiful off-white ornament with mom's name printed in cursive in soft gold on one side, and "Christmas In Heaven" written on the other side. It has a beautiful off-white and gold bow at the top. It matches my upstairs tree perfectly, which is why I believe God (and probably Mom :)) inspired the giver to give such an absolutely perfect, priceless gift. I wanted to find the perfect ornament to place near the top of that tree to honor Mom. Now, thanks to a wonderful friend who didn't even know my wish, I have it. It is displayed with love and pride in memory of a woman who gave unselfishly and inconspicously, who touched, changed, and who significantly and eternally impacted countless lives. Funny thing is, I don't think she even realized it! Which makes her all the more unspeakably precious. I have another ornament--a burnished gold cherub holding a harp--that honors my sweet Aunty Ann who has been with Jesus for many years now. This little angel has been right at the top of that tree, holding a place of honor and rememberance for my Auntie, for the last 10 years. When I told Mom about the little angel that held a place of honor on my tree for her little sister, she teared up, and beamed with joy, all at the same time. Now, when I see their ornaments together on my tree, it makes me smile and wonder how many fun and crazy things those two are doing up in Heaven right now! Please don't misunderstand. I am not "happy" that they are not here. I choose to look at it this way: I can either be overcome with grief, looking to the last day I saw them as a day that I reach hopelessly backwards in time for, as each passing day brings me further away from them. Or, I can look to the future, knowing that each passing day brings me closer to seeing them again, and when I do see them again, I will never, ever have to say "Goodbye" again! If you would like to read the poem, "Christmas In Heaven", please contact me via email. I tried to print the poem here, but that email never was posted, so I don't know if there are copyright rules that "Legacy.com" must abide by. If I find out it's okay to post the poem here, I will send it again. I do not know who the author is, so I cannot give him or her the credit they deserve. Someone really understood how important Christmas is. I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

It's almost Christmas! Mom, this is your time of year, and I can't even begin to imagine how awesome it will be to celebrate Christmas in Heaven. It's been quite different without you here. Even today, I reached for the phone to give you a quick call. Smartie, you left without giving us your new number! Was that on purpose??? I guess you would consider it the "other place" if you had to answer the phone for eternity, huh??? Ha! Ha! Well, I know that I'll be here often to see what's new. And I'm sure we'll all have memories and things that keep popping up that we will all want to record here. You are awesome, and missed much! I love you, Mom. I'm glad that I don't have to "wish" you a Merry Christmas, well, at least like we do here on earth! What I send to you is well beyond just a wish, because you are experiencing the most tangible "Merry Christmas" anyone could ever imagine!!! No mere "wish" could ever compare! Love, Joni

Hi Grandma.I want to let you know i love you & miss you!I know someday i will meet you in heaven, just someday:>) love jess

Mom,

I miss you desperately...thank you for for being the best mom ever.

Love always,

Anne

Hey, Grandma it's the Bishop I just wanted to say I love you so much I can't describe it. I wanted to thank you for coming to the first time I preached in the childrens church and there you were sitting there with Papa carefully listening to me speak to the kids. Thank you for being such a great influence in my life. Love you very much and see you soon.



Love your grandson,

Tyler

Dear Jake and family,



We are very sad for your loss. Although for as long as I can remember, we've lived states apart, I do remember you guys from weddings or other family events. I remember her beautiful face and how sweet and loving she was. How wonderful to be around such a special woman for so long. (I know it doesn't seem long enough. I feel the same way about my grandpa, Gino) However, for her sake, she is with the One she lived for and is completely whole and healthy again.



May God continue to reach down and wrap is arms around you. His love is enough to comfort and heal us as we allow Him to do so.



Please know, dear cousins, that you are loved and prayed for. A thought to leave you with... (smile)...now she really can see all you do!



Love to you,



Scott, Gina, Brett, and Tyler Jensen

Grandma,

I loved you so very much, and I never got to tell you. There is so much I wanted to say, so many people I wanted to meet, so many things I want you to see me do... You were always there at my ballet performances, and you always, so desperately, wanted to come and see me in run in one of my track meets. I am sorry that I could never have you see me win a race, or play in a basketball game. I wanted to make you proud! I loved to see your smiling face, decorated by loving eyes, whenever I ventured to your house. You always had a mental list of all the childish goodies that I so adored: you always knew what popsicles I would wolf down and which I would just pick around. And when you realized that I had a partculary soft spot for oreos, you always kept at least two packages on hand. You always laughed at my jokes (even those cheesy ones I obtained from the popsicle sticks).

I delighted in going to your house; it always maintained a cheerful attitude, gorgeous sunlight, and, as always, an open door for all who desired to enter. Your home was always filled with the joyous love of God. I always bragged about you to my friends, saying that you were the most wonderful Grandmother a child like I could ever wish for. We grandchildren would try you repeatedly, but you always would find some excuse for our monstrous actions. You always would look at our lovely little halos, and you would completely ignore the little horns that held our golden halo in place. And as always, I steaked out your lasagna as the best the world has ever seen (I believe that all you grandchildren would be ready to back me up on that claim).

Life is so different without you, and your absence has thrown into sharp relief how much I thought about you, talked about you, and talked to you. You were always there when I was sick, upset or scared. I remember, when I was seven, we were moving into our new house, and Papa, Aimee, Richard, Mom and Dad had gone back to old house to transport more of our belongings to our new home. You and I were left alone in the house, which was littered with numerous cans of paint, sand paper, carpet and other such objects often seen when one remodels a house. I was lying in the comforting sun, down in, what would become, my room. As small children do, I fell sound asleep. When I awoke from a disturbing dream, I saw that I was in an unfamiliar place, but that is not what scared me: I feared that you had left me alone in this big and frightening house. As I began to panic, letting out a fearful sob, as tears of dread ripplied out of my eyes, you came running into my room, getting down on your knees to see what had disturbed this little girl. Sometimes, now, I find myself in the same situation: awoken by a disrupting dream and I look for you, and I start to cry, realizing that you are not there to come and comfort me and to tell me that everything is going to be all right. I am in this large and unfamiliar world, and you are not there to hug me and tell me that everything will be okay. My heart constantly aches, and I feel no relief. I miss you terribly, and you have no idea what I would give just to see you and talk to you. But there is solice in that I can still talk to you in my dreams. There, I can see your angelic face and hear your musical voice as you tell me, in your reassuring way, that everying is all right. In that other world, I can tell you about my day and you can tell me about yours. There, we can laugh and talk as we once did, and you can rattle off your list of childish goodies that I still have a soft spot for.

But most importantly, I love you Grandma!

Goodnight...

I will be seeing you in my dreams!

I Love You Mom.

Larry

Our family is saddened by your loss, but we know that someday you all will be reuinted with Tony. We haven't see you all in many years but you have been in our prayers during this time. Please know we are still praying for all of you.

Vickie Kellar ( Desi's sister)

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My memories are from when I was a teenager and went to the church in security ... her homemade lasagna ... her support when you were having problems. She was a very special lady.

My mom Mildred Young and I just wanted to say how sorry we were to hear about your wife and mom. She was a true example of a gentle, Christian lady. Our prayers are with the entire family. God Bless, Kelley and Mildred

You are in our thoughts. God Bless. Peggy and all of us at Schmidts Fountain pit

Jay, Dave and family's

We were so sorry to learn of Ann's passing.

Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers are extended to all of you.

May God help you through this time of your life. God Bless