At 103 years old, Antoinette McGovern is a huge Red Socks fan. Mayor Ken Hopkins discovered this when he visited her at Cra-Mar Meadows on Seven Mile Road for her birthday and saw the baseball poster on her wall. Showing her excitement for the sport, Antoinette started singing “Take me out to the Ball Game.”

On Dec. 8, Hopkins presented Antoinette with a citation as a dozen guests gathered at the nursing home to celebrate the birthday girl. Antoinette was all dressed up with her birthday tiara, painted nails and a blue outfit – her favorite color. The nursing home provided pastries and the facility’s hairdresser came in a day early just to do Antoinette’s hair for the special occasion. Pat Brzostecki, Antoinette’s daughter, said her mom was very thankful for the mayor’s visit and also thanked Jami Midence and Sue McCoy for the work they put into the event to make Antoinette’s day special.

Antoinette was born to Medora and Aime Dionne on Nov. 30, 1919. She was one of six kids – having three sisters and two brothers. Growing up in Providence, she attended Our Lady of Lourdes School. Pat said her mom loved school and going to Providence’s Nickerson House for sewing lessons. Antoinette won an award for one of the outfits she made and would eventually use her skills to create clothes for her three daughters: Joan, Maureen and Pat. Coming from a French and Irish background, Antoinette spoke French and English – today she will still sing French hymns.

A lifelong Rhode Islander, Antoinette met her future husband – James McGovern – at Roger Williams Park. The couple married on Nov. 28, 1940, and spent 64 years together. They lived in a three-tenement home on Lockwood Street in Providence where they raised their children. James was drafted during World War II and spent his military career in the Navy as a Seabee. He returned home and was awarded with a Purple Heart. Pat said he was happy to be home with family and return to work.

Pat said Antoinette was a wonderful mother. When the kids were in school, she worked at various jewelry shops; her last job was working at Providence’s Imperial Knife Company. The family left Lockwood Street and moved into Antoinette’s mother’s home to assist her. After she passed, Antoinette and James moved into a house on Hartford Avenue in Johnston where their residence overlooked the water. The property belonged to their eldest daughter, Joan. During their time there, Pat said her mom enjoyed going to the Johnston Senior Center with one of her friends. She also spent time with her two older sisters Dora Gagne and Malvina Champagne; they loved going out to eat and would take Antoinette to the Lincoln race track. 

James and Antoinette traveled to various places like Hawaii, Nashville and Paris – always bringing home souvenir plates. James passed away in 2004, and Antoinette remained in Johnston until age 95. She eventually moved into an assisted living facility in Coventry so she was closer to Pat. With dementia setting in at 97 years old, Antoinette moved to Cra-Mar Meadows in September 2020. Pat added that her mom walks without a walker and is a sweet and polite lady who thanks the Cra-Mar Meadows staff for everything.

Pat said her mom had a big 100th celebration which included a celebration mass at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish (OLC) in Coventry where Pat attends church. Antoinette has made a lasting impression, with Pat saying people who got to know Antoinette always ask how she’s doing.

Today, Antoinette has five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She did lose one daughter, one grandson and her siblings but knows she has lots of loved ones in Heaven waiting. Pat said Antoinette jokes: “God doesn’t want me and neither does the Devil.” In the meantime, God has given her strong legs to keep on kicking and sometimes she’ll even do some dancing with the Cra-Mar Meadows staff.

“So much more could be said about Antoinette but most important during the years not always easy she showed love and caring for her family and friends,” said Pat.