Antoinette DiBattista, age 102, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Bethany Nursing Home.

Born November 19, 1923, in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Italian immigrants, the late Vincenzo and Rose (Bucci) DiBattista. In 1933, the family settled in Canton, establishing the neighborhood home that Antoinette would proudly make the heart of the family for over 90 years.

A woman of profound Catholic faith, she grew up making the weekly walk with her family each Sunday to St. Peter’s Catholic Church. She attributed her long life in part to the Fourth Commandment—honoring her parents—following the extraordinary generational example of her father, who lived to age 101.

Never marrying, Antoinette devoted her life to keeping the family sanctuary, selflessly caring for her mother through illness and remaining a steady, loving presence for her father. She was known for her sharp wit and indomitable spirit—when told of a hospice referral in her final days, she characteristically insisted she fully planned on playing bingo the following week.

A lifelong animal lover, she shared her home with many animals and was protected and accompanied for over a decade by her beloved dog, "Poopy," who provided constant companionship—and more than a few legendary neighborhood memories, such as the unforgettable day he slipped out of the house, sending her devoted great-nephew, Albert Kiser, walking through the neighborhood calling out his unique name at the top of his lungs.

Antoinette shared deeply cherished bonds throughout her long life and was blessed with an extraordinarily devoted family. She genuinely cared about every member and had a remarkable memory that rivaled those much younger than her.

She held a special closeness with her niece Gina (Reis) Kiser and great-niece Sophie Kiser. When Sophie began dating her boyfriend Paul, Antoinette made her expectations clear with classic wit: “He better treat you right, or I’ll hit him on the head with my cane!” It was pure Antoinette—fiercely protective, quick-witted, and always able to make everyone laugh. She also loved listening to the radio and was always delighted whenever she heard Sophie mention her on the air, moments that brought her immense joy and created memories Sophie will treasure forever.

She was immensely grateful for her nephew Vince Reis, who for years traveled regularly from Columbus to help her shop for groceries and other necessities. And she found constant warmth, comfort, and companionship in her niece Anne Reis, whose faithful daily phone calls brightened Antoinette’s life right up until her final days.

Though she had no biological children, Antoinette served as a surrogate matriarch, living archive, and sanctuary across multiple generations. Her milestone 100th birthday was anchored by the special devotion of her family—including her great-nephew Joey Reis (son of the late Martin Reis), who alongside his cousins Sharon Sheets and Catherine Berry (daughters of the late Betty Sheets), Sophie Kiser, and Jessica Bennett, gathered to bring her immense joy and honor her century of life.

Catherine Berry still smiles when she remembers a visit just before Antoinette’s 100th birthday. She asked if she could take her picture. “Why, sure… give me a minute,” Antoinette replied. She carefully moved her walker out of the frame—it was not going to be in the picture—then smoothed her hair and said, “OK, now I am ready.” It was such a lovely moment to watch her fuss and then pose with quiet dignity. Her sweetness in that simple gesture will never be forgotten.

One especially funny memory comes from Joey himself. About a week after he got his driver’s license, he was driving home from school and spotted Antoinette walking by JCPenney toward the bus stop. He pulled over off Whipple Avenue (startling her a little) and called out, “Antoinette, get in the car!” She looked at him in surprise and said, “Joey? You drive now? I can’t believe they let you drive.”

As the years passed and Antoinette needed more support, her relationship with her niece-in-law, Melosina (“Melin”), wife of Scott, blossomed into a profound daily bond. Melin visited twice a day, every day, to make sure Antoinette was well cared for and comfortable. Out of this closeness grew a tender friendship, as the two women began taking in stray neighborhood cats, sheltering them especially through the brutal winter months. By the time Antoinette moved to the nursing home, their shared feline sanctuary had grown to ten beloved cats. True to her extraordinary faithfulness, Melin kept up her daily visits to the house, making sure Antoinette’s cats stayed fed, loved, and cared for.

In her final years, her greatest delight was found in the youngest generation. She cherished visits from her great-niece Jessica Bennett and her children, Jack and Josie, who spent many mornings eating breakfasts with Antoinette in her kitchen—gathering around the exact same table where Antoinette’s mother, Rose, once served meals to the first generation of DiBattista siblings nearly a century before. Antoinette took immense joy in playing nursing home bingo to use her "winnings" to buy storybooks and toys for the young ones, and she held a special pride in young Ace DiBattista, whom she affectionately called "Rico," or "The One"—recognizing him as the sole male bearer of the DiBattista family name into the next generation.

Antoinette is survived by her nephew, Scott DiBattista, and his wife Melin; and her nieces and nephews, Cindy (John) Martin, Patrick DiBattista and his husband, Alfredo Gomez, Anne Reis, Vincent (Terri) Reis, Susan Gerber, Gina (Thomas) Kiser, and Robert Lafler. She is also survived by her cherished great-nieces and great-nephews, Robert DiBattista and his wife, Sarah Winter (with KC Winter, Aaron DiBattista, and Bricen Scott DiBattista), Jessica (Jeremy) Bennett, John (Sarah) DiBattista, Samantha (Jeremy) Koontz, Elizebeth (Laurence) Villanueva, Christopher (Linda) Reis, Jennifer Reis, Sophie Kiser, Albert (Emily) Kiser, Sharon Sheets, Catherine (Todd) Berry, David (Ethel) Sheets, Jimmy Gerber, and Joseph Martin Reis III and his mother, JoAnne; as well as her great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vincenzo and Rose (Bucci) DiBattista; her four siblings, Nick (Josephine) DiBattista, Assunta “Sue” (Joseph) Reis, Philomena (William) Lafler, and Elinor Scipione; her nephews, Rev. Fr. Richard Reis, Carl (Lillian) Reis, and Joseph Martin “Marty” Reis Jr.; her niece, Elizabeth “Betty” (Raymond) Sheets; and her nephew, Kenneth Lafler.

Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, July 29th from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Rossi Family Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian burial to follow, 1:00 pm, at St. Peter Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Brian Smith celebrant. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Antoinette's honor to St. Peter’s Catholic Church or a local animal shelter of your choice.