Maura Ann D'Antoni
Sex: F
AKA: Sugar
Individual Information
Birth Date: 10 Oct 1935 - New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Christening:
Death: 19 Jan 2024 - Moorpark, Ventura, California, United States ( at age 88)
Burial: in Hosston Cemetery, Hosston, Caddo, Louisiana, United States
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Joseph Stephen D'Antoni
Mother: Helen Gertrude Skelly
Spouses and Children
1. *Harold Donald Hawkins
Marriage: 2 Jun 1954 - New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Marriage Notes
Per Familysearch.org Louisiana, Parish Marriages
Groom: Harold Donald Hawkins Age 20 Born about 1934
Bride: Maura Ann S'Antoni Age 18 Born about 1936
Date: June 2, 1954 in Orleans parish
Groom's Father: Harold Hawkins
Groom's Mother: Zallie Allison
Bride's Father: Dr J S D'Antoni
Bride's Mother: Helen G Skelly
Per Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA) April 21, 1954 Page 31
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Steven D'Antoni announce the engagement of their daughter. Miss Maura Ann D'Antoni, to Mr. Harold Donald Hawkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hawkins of Shreveport, La., and Price, Utah. The wedding will take place in June in the Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
Miss D'Antoni, whose mother is the former Miss Helen Skelly, was graduated from the Louise S. McGehee school and is presently attending Newcomb college.
Mr. Hawkins is attending Tulane university school of engineering. His mother is the former Miss Zollie Allison of Shreveport, La.
Per Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA) June 4, 1954 Page 33
In the Church of Most Holy Name of Jesus Wednesday evening, Miss Maura Ann D'Antoni, only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Steven D'Antoni became the bride of Mr. Harold Donald Hawkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hawkins of Shreveport, La., and Price, Utah. The Rev. Daniel O'Callaghan, S. J., officiated at the ceremony.
The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father, who gave her in marriage. Her gown of white taffeta was fashioned with a bateau neckline edged with Alecon lace embroidered with seed pearls. The cap sleeves were edged in lace and the tight-fitting bodice appliqued with lace. The bouffant skirt swept into a catherdral length train. In the back of the skirt was a bustel. Her full-length veil of illusion was held to her head by a bandeau of shirred illusion high lighted with seed pearls and her bouquet combined lillies of the valley and orchids.
Miss Elizabeth Osborn was the maid of honor and Mrs. Robert D. Hoffman was the matron of honor. The other attendants included Misses Deloris Hawkins, of Shreveport, sister of the bridegroom, Jane D'Antoni, cousin of the bride and as junior bridesmaids Miss Joyce Hawkins of Shreveport, another sister of the bridegroom, and Miss Brynn Hotard, cousin of the bride.
Their gowns were of lavender tulle over matching taffeta and they carried bouquets of lavender orchids. In their hair they wore bandeaux of lavender velvet leaves with small orchids on either side.
Mr. Thomas James of Shreveport was the best man and the groomsmen and ushers included Messrs. David McMurraine of Hapeville, Ga., James Cain of Baton Rouge, La., Douglas Woodruff, Dr. A. J. Kreller Jr., Messrs. Paul D. Cordes; James T. Skelly and Anthony Sardisco of Shreveport.
Following the ceremony there was a reception at a downtown hotel. Mrs. D'Antoni chose for her daughter's wedding a beige chiffon gown trimmed in self leaves and seed pearls, matching accessories and a corsage bouquet of stephanotis. Mrs. Hawkins, mother of the bridegroom, assisted in receiving in a changeable rose colored taffeta gown and a shoulder bouquet of lavender orchids.
Later in the evening the young couple left on a wedding trip motoring West. The bride chose for her "going away" outfit a cinnamon colored cotton suit accented in white pique, a hat of similar material to her suit and a corsage bouquet of white orchids. Upon completion of their trip they will go to Price, Utah, where they will spend the summer months and return to New Orleans in early September.
The bride, whose mother is the former Miss Helen Skelly, was graduated from the Louise S. McGehee school and attended Newcomb college.
Mr. Hawkins is attending Tulane university school of engineering. His mother is the former Miss Zollie Allison of Shreveport, La.
Out-of-town guests here for the wedding were Mrs. Anna Havener, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Nicosia and Mr. Peter Romano of New York; Dr. and Mrs. Louis Cruppito of Houston, Tex.; Mrs. Alfrey Belchic and Miss Renie Ferguson of Shreveport; Dr. and Mrs. R. S. Kemp of San Antonio, Tex.; Mr. and Mrs. James Goff and Mrs. J. T. Murphy of Price.
Children:
1. Jerry Hawkins
Notes
General:
Per 1940 US Census 4/22/1940 1805 State St, Ward 14, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana
Joseph S. D'Antonia is the 32 year old white male head of household, who rents his home for $130 a month. He was born in Louisiana and lived in the same area in 1939, as did his wife. Educated through 5 years of college, he works as an assistant professor of tropical medicine at a teaching university, working 40 hours the last week of March, and in 42 weeks of work in 1939 earned $600. His wife (the informant for this census), 28 year old Helen D'Antonia, finished 1 year of college. Their daughter, Maura D'Antonia, is 4 years old. The family has living with them a private duty baby's nurse, Anna Steinada, who works 60 hours a week, and earned $300 for 52 weeks work in 1939.
Hello,
It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform you that Maura Ann D'Antoni Hawkins, also affectionately known as Sugar, peacefully passed away at her home in Moorpark California just before 2AM on Friday, January 19th, 2024 at the age of 88. Her daughter Helen was by her side.
In October 2022 Sugar suffered a stroke, and although it was relatively mild and she recovered well, she still had some lingering effects. Other medical issues were discovered at that time and although treatments may have been available, it was her decision to not pursue them. As a result, her health began to steadily decline. Due to the worsening of her condition including difficulty breathing, weakness and fatigue, on January 5th she was placed on home hospice. Her condition declined rapidly during the last two weeks of her life. Her desire was to go quickly and peacefully in her sleep. Thankfully, during the last 2 days of her life, she slept continuously and showed no signs of being in pain.
Maura was born October 10, 1935 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Joseph S. D'Antoni MD and Helen Skelly D'Antoni. She was raised in New Orleans and lived there until her marriage to Harold D. Hawkins of Shreveport, Louisiana on June 2, 1954. She was preceded in death by her husband Harold and son Jerry. She is survived by four children (Mary Diane, Bryan, Kelly and Helen), nine grandchildren (Bradley, Emily, Kyle, Bear, Wade, Maddie, Anselm, Marielle and Brady), five great grandchildren (Tori, Carey, Elliott, Dot and James), and numerous loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and her many dear friends.
Maura loved and was loved by many. Sugar was a people person who had a unique force of gravity. Those who were close to her felt lucky to be in her orbit. She expressed a genuine interest in nearly everyone she came across, always asking not only their name but, if time permitted, she asked about their lives, their families, and their aspirations. Her daughter Helen often told people when she introduced them to Maura that she would know their entire life story within 5 minutes! As a result of her natural warmth and interest, many incidental meetings grew into friendships. Her phone calls were notoriously long, but she had a knack for always remembering and recalling precise details during subsequent interactions. Many people have expressed their deep appreciation for the interest she took in their lives, and her guidance, influence, warmth and understanding.
Maura often did things in her own specific way, and so it may not be a surprise to know that her choice was to not have any services. She will be cremated, and her ashes will eventually be buried next to her husband Harold at the Hawkins family plot in Hosston, LA.
We encourage you to use the website below to share thoughts, memories, photos and stories about Maura, especially since there will not be a service. The site is here: https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/MauraHawkins/?pvgLink=ia5ks7vcbf
You can write memories in the "Tribute" box if you'd like. Feel free to share this link.
Though Maura is no longer with us physically, her influence and powerful presence will live on in our memory of her. Below is a poem we found in her papers today that we felt was fitting. Consider it lagniappe.
With love,
The family of Maura Hawkins
God saw you getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So he put his arms around you
And whispered, "Come to me."
With tearful eyes we watched you,
And saw you pass away,
And though we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay
A golden heart stopped beating,
A precious soul at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best
--
Helen Hawkins
805-558-5408