Antoinette A. King

Antoinette A. King, 89, passed away June 22, 2017. She was the wife of the late John T. King. Born in East Greenwich she was a daughter of the late Pasquale and Lillian (Simone) Nappa.

Antoinette was born in a time when women had their place but refused to stay in hers. She worked in a variety of different industries throughout her life but most notably as an original Rosie the Riveter during WWII –repairing airplane carburetors at Quonset Point.

Antoinette married John Thomas King in 1947. They met at Pals in East Greenwich where he asked her to dance. They had three children together, created a home and a life for their family. Antoinette followed her husband as he sailed the world in the Navy. She was proud of her sailor husband. She cried the day she laid him to rest.

Antoinette was an outspoken, funny, independent, stubborn and passionate. She lived life on her own terms and she was our Mom. She loved – she loved us, she loved the kids and she loved everyone she met.

Antoinette and her daughters shared that bond that only mothers and daughters understand. Lisa followed in her mother’s footsteps marrying a sailor and there are many memories of the family – Antoinette, Anna, Joseph (Anna’s husband), Lee, Nicholas (Lee’s husband) and the kids together. Whether they were all together in Rhode Island or Joseph was driving Antoinette and Anna to see Lee and Nicholas, they were together.

Antoinette was happy doing many things in life- dancing, singing, swimming and yodeling. She was the life of the party. She loved traveling. But most of all, she was happy when she was with her family.

She is survived by three children, Anna M. Masciarotte, Lisa A. Ahart and John T. King, Jr. Antoinette adored her grandchildren – Kristopher, Robyn, Matthew, Alexander, John and Amanda. She renewed that love with her great grandchildren Isabella, Jackson, Lily, Abigail, Mason, Maxwell and Guilana. Nothing made her happier than being with them and entertaining them. She is the sister of Carmine Nappa, Antonio Nappa (deceased), Amelia Gallo, Frank Nappa, Michael Nappa, Anna Rice, Mary Walters, Anthony Nappa, Vincent Nappa, Pasquale Nappa (deceased) and Domenic Nappa (deceased)

Call her Antoinette, Toni, Donat, Auntie Do, Mom, Grandma King, Nana or Great Grandma – but most of all, call her unique. She was her own woman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday June 26th at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial will be in the RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Visitation prior to mass will be held from 9:00-10:30 am at the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hope Alzheimer’s Center, Scalabrini Villa or to Kindred