Antonette (Toni) Simplicio

George Curletto, an Internationally renowned musician and prolific composer, residing in Northwest Washington, D.C. since 1969, life member of both the New York Local 802 and the Washington, D.C. Local 161-710 of the International Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, is with great sorrow announcing to the entire family, all relatives and friends, as well as to all of his own colleagues and friends, the sudden loss of his life companion Antonette Simplicio for more than 50 precious year that were governed by reciprocally contributed unconditional love and steady devotion.
    Antonette (Toni) Simplicio, 81, of Northwest Washington, D.C., passed away March 3, 2018 at George Washington University Hospital after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. From Northfork, West Virginia, she was the fourth of ten children born to Antonio and Giustina Simplicio. After graduating from Northfork High School, Antonette moved to Washington, D.C., and while working full time, she continued her education at George Washington University and Strayers University. She was the Office Manager and Head, Production Unit of the Bureau of Social Science Research, Inc. (BSSR) of Washington, D.C., until her retirement. She was also an accomplished business woman entrepreneur with several US and International business ventures, at a time when very few women were expected to succeed in handling such important roles. To fulfill a wish her parents always had, she was able to travel to Italy and Sicily to visit both of their birthplaces and reconnect with extended family members who still lived there. Family was paramount to Antonette, and she took pleasure in generously sharing vacations, travel and her invaluable advice and experience with all of her family and others. She served as a mentor and supporter to help launch younger siblings as they finished high school and embarked on their own careers. While on a transatlantic voyage in the mid 1960's she met the love of her life and devoted companion for more than fifty years, Giorgio Curletto, whose life, from now on, will no longer be the same without her. In addition to her parents, Antonette was preceded in death by her brothers, Anthony Simplicio, Jr., and Luke George Simplicio. Survivors include her beloved and devoted partner of 5O years, Giorgio Curletto; brother Vasile Simplicio, sisters Josephine Kiebler, Anna (Frank) Knauf, Micheline Shea (Bob) Noble, Nancy Simplicio, Giustina (Toby) Rhodes, and Rosalie (Jim) Owrey, along with a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. To honor the life and memory of our dear Antonette, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018; 11:00 a.m. at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell, WV with Father Sebastian Devasya officiating the service. Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Bluewell, WV. The Simplicio family will receive friends and relatives one hour prior to Antonette’s funeral service on Saturday, March 24, 2018 starting at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. For those who choose to do so, in lieu of flowers family is requesting memorial donations be made to The National Parkinson's Research Foundation.