Dominic Anthony “Tony” Antonacci, 87, of Alma, Illinois, passed away on March 5, 2024, on the family farm in the log home he shared with his wife, Cora, surrounded by his loving family.
Service: Extended family and friends are invited to pay their respects at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church from 8:30 am to 10 am on Monday, March 11, 2024. A funeral mass for both Cora and Tony Antonacci will follow. A burial service will follow the mass at the Alma Cemetery. Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home in Salem, Illinois is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at Sutherlandfuneralhome.com.
Tony was born in Peoria, Illinois to Michael and Josephine (Briggs) Antonacci on May 12, 1936. He graduated from Brimfield High School in Brimfield, Illinois, and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1994.
After high school graduation, he worked at Caterpillar in East Peoria, Illinois where he met his future wife, passing her each morning on the Franklin Street Bridge. The couple was married on June 29th, 1957 in Canton, Illinois at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Tony lived a farm life with his wife Cora for 65 years.
Throughout his life, Tony worked in several different fields to support his family. First and closest to his heart was farming and later in life he worked as part of the dislocated worker program at Kaskaskia College. He was also a bus driver for the Kinmundy-Alma/South Central school district and the Salem school district. He was co-owner of the Three Bee’s Book Store in Alma with his wife Cora.
Tony loved technology and all things mechanical. Ever a farmer, he harvested his last acre of corn last fall.
Tony was preceded in death by his wife Cora, his parents, sister Mickey Nauman, his in-laws Benno and Mary (Humes) Alig, his sisters-in-law Donna (Alig) Herberger, Elaine Alig, Marilynn K. Alig, and brothers-in-law Benno Lynn Alig, Alan Alig, and Michael Alig.
Tony is survived by four children, two sons, Anthony (Deb) Antonacci Jr., and Paul (Diane) Antonacci, both of Breese, Illinois, a daughter, Pam (Robert) Meyer, Athens, Alabama, a daughter, Lucinda (Robert) Fulton, Staunton, Illinois, niece, Sue (Michael) Sloat, Centralia, Illinois. Grandchildren include: Elizabeth (Bill) Knapp, David Antonacci, Joseph (Courtney) Antonacci, Dominic Antonacci, Anne Marie Antonacci and Ellen Antonacci, Jacob Meyer, Julia Meyer, Matthew Meyer, Maria Meyer, Mary Antonacci, Michael Antonacci, John (Amanda) Antonacci, Thomas (Fiance – Oceana) Antonacci, Miranda (Chandler) Coulter, Lydia Fulton and Samantha Fulton, Sean (Dr. Caroline Shanholtz) Maxey, Ben Sloat and Cindi (Tylor) McDaniel.
He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Katherine, Sarah, Caroline, Isaiah, Avery, Luke, Karigan, Brooks, and Emilia.
Other survivors include one sister Joanne (Harold) Whittaker, and brothers-in law Donald Alig, James Alig, and Patrick (Connie) Alig, Clinton Nauman, and Niles Herberger, and sisters-in-law, Jan Miller, Jenny Alig and Suzanne Alig and special friends, Mike and Tracy Smith, Peoria, Illinois plus many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be given to SSM Hospice Home Care or the donor’s choice.
The family of Tony and Cora Antonacci wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Mahvish Zahoor and her staff, and SSM Hospice Home Care.
