Obituary of Antonette "Toni" Marie Gross

Antonette Marie Zippier was born in Buffalo, New York, on June 19, 1927. She was one of ten children born from the union of the late Louis and Louisa (Marchione) Zippier. Antonette attended Kenmore High School in New York and was the first to graduate in her family. Antonette married the love of her life, Raymond Gross, on June 21, 1947 in Buffalo. The couple shared in the birth of three children and moved their family to Michigan in 1964. After the family’s move to Michigan, she worked at Connor-Hartwig Insurance, and then as a secretary at Peoples Federal Bank until her retirement in 1990. She was an active member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Newport and volunteered at the church and at the Mercy Memorial Hospital gift shop in Monroe. Cherishing time with family and friends was an important and valued time in Antonette’s life. She enjoyed spending quality time with her children and grandchildren. Her Italian heritage and love of cooking were not unnoticed by others, and she enjoyed bestowing these talents on all that came to her table. It was not uncommon to find her opening her home to serve Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to those in need. In her later years, Antonette enjoyed traveling to Florida with her husband, Raymond, where they spent the winters in St. Petersburg soaking up the sun that she so dearly loved. Antonette, age 89, of Newport passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at the IHM Heath Care Center. In addition to her parents, her passing was preceded by her husband of fifty-three years; four brothers: Lawrence Marinelli, Louis Marinelli, Peter Zippier, Anthony Zippier, and five sisters: Mary Converso, Lena Zippier, Matilda Quattrini, Clara Matthews, Delores Jones; and a son-in-law Thomas Davidson. To cherish her memory, Antonette leaves three children: a son, Gary (Patricia) Gross of Riverview; daughters, Gail Davidson of Leonard, MI and Suzanne (David) LeBrun of Monroe; eight grandchildren: Christy (David) Poziemski, Anthony (Katherine) Gross, Nicholas Gross, Jason (Nicolle) Gross, Stacy (Christopher) Moore, Joshua Davidson, Raymond (Danielle) LeBrun, Jeffrey (Katie) LeBrun; and thirteen great grandchildren. Antonette will lie-in-state from 10:00am until the Mass of the Resurrection at 11:00am on Monday, November 7, 2016 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 8125 Swan Creek Road in Newport with Father Anthony Camilleri officiating. Burial will follow to St. Charles Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, 2442 North Monroe Street, (734) 384-5185. Memorial donations are suggested to the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center for angiosarcoma and other cancer research. Online donations may be given at the following website: https://leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/#!/med/umhs-ccc Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.