Antoinette Philbin

“An Amazing Life”

Ann’s passing was peaceful, surrounded by family in Ridgewood, New Jersey. She is survived by her daughter Beth Philbin Buckley, son-in-law Brendan Buckley, sisters Mary Wood and Roe Agustinelli and brothers Johnny Giamburro and Tommy Giamburrro, and her three grandchildren Kaitlyn, Brendan, and Brianna. Ann was born in the Bronx on October 4th, 1937, to Guiseppi and Anna.  She is preceded in her death by Sisters Angie, Tessie, Concetta, and brothers Mikey, Freddie, Joey, Louis, Albert, and parents Guiseppi and Anna, and of course her furry friend Holly.

The life of Ann Philbin was “An Amazing Life". Ann was known as not having a single bad bone in her body and saw the good in everyone. Through her many decades, she thoroughly enjoyed her family. Sunday Dinner was mandatory on 1133 Revere Ave where she lived with many of her brothers and sisters. Ann (Antoinette, Mom, Auntie, Ms. P, Grandma, G-Ma) would always help her mom, Nanny, prepare the Meatballs for Sunday Pasta as the rest of the family journeyed in from all over. Best be there by 1 PM. No one could ever figure out how she easily cracked nuts with her teeth as we waited to eat our meal. Ann cherished her brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and the many get togethers over the years. The laughter, banter, and at times yelling was what made them so close and so special. 

However, her daughter Beth was her pride and joy and as she says, “her best accomplishment”.  It was not easy for Ann raising Beth and working full time commuting to Manhattan and making sure her daughter was safe and getting the proper education and guidance. Ann went on and had several jobs most notably a successful career at Bank Leumi again another accomplishment in this Amazing Life. Ann possessed a strong will and clearly proved her independence. She always believed her greatest accomplishment was raising a beautiful and successful daughter who became a Registered Nurse spending her life helping others.  

But Ms. P’s life was not complete until her three grandchildren arrived. She went from only talking about her Daughter Beth, to only talking about Kaitlyn, Brendan, and Brianna. They loved their grandmother and she a had a very special relationship with each of them.  Memories of her taking them to the Pancake House, Color Me Mine, American Girl Dolls the countless Christmas shows at Rockefeller center, to many years of Christmas baking and decorating always wanting to “get the gossip” from the kids.  Oh, and we can’t forget the countless bruises she encountered playing goalie in the driveway as a young Buck practiced his slap shot. But what she loved most about her grandkids was just sitting around and talking and laughing with them.

Ann loved to laugh and tell stories and was always a great sport.  Affectionately known as G Ma to the Ridgewood community it was often that her grand kids’ friends would drive by as she was sitting up on the porch with her best friend our dog Holly, honking the horns and screaming frantically out the window “We love you G Ma.”

Through the years, Ann continuously opened her heart and her home to all, at 1133 Revere.  Friends always had a place in Ann’s home and she never judged a soul.  Yeah but, we will never know why she had a lock on the outside of her bedroom door.   She has been known and beloved by so many for infinite reasons. Her listening ear, her kind/compassionate heart and her never ending generosity blessed the lives of those fortunate enough to be in her company. Ann, Antionette, Mom, Auntie, Ms. P, Grandma, G-Ma will forever and always be missed. Her life calling was perfectly completed. She has earned an eternal place in the hearts of many. How blessed we all are to have had her in our lives!  Indeed, An Amazing Life.  

Finally, she loved to tell jokes. They were all funny jokes but how she delivered the jokes was what made them funnier. Let’s leave with one Joke she told a lot. “There were two potato chips standing on the side of the mountain. One jumped off and the other didn’t. Why didn’t the other one jump also.  Because he was a WISE potato chip.

You will always be loved and remembered. Until we meet again, we will see you later.

Visiting will be on Saturday, November 26, 2022, from 2:00-5:00pm  at the funeral home.

For donations in, lieu of flowers, the family would like to honor Antionette memory via donations to American Heart Association. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Antoinette Philbin, please visit our floral store.