Antoinette M. (Sperandio) Arcabascio

Antoinette M. (Sperandio) Arcabascio, 99, of Shrewsbury and formerly of Marlborough, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family, on September 10, 2025.

Antoinette was born in Marlborough MA, the daughter of the late Desiderio and Philomena (Testa) Sperandio.

She was predeceased by her husband of 28 years, Angelo S. Arcabascio, in 1987. Also, by her 4 brothers, Nazareth Sperandio, Anthony Sperandio, Peter Sperandio and John Sperandio.

Antoinette is survived by her 3 sons and 1 daughter, Joseph Arcabascio and his wife Lisa of Shrewsbury, MA, Steven Arcabascio of Los Angeles, CA, Peter Arcabascio and his wife Christine of Pembroke, MA, and Maria Acquaah and her husband Kwesi of Salem, MA, her 8 grandchildren, Nicholas and his wife Emma, Benjamin, Hannah and her husband Philip, Mauricio, Isabella, Adjoa, Gianna, and Jack as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Antoinette was born on June 3, 1926, and raised in Marlborough, the youngest of 5 children. With 4 older brothers she would often refer to herself as a 'Tomboy'. She admired her brothers greatly and followed them into the sport of Golf which she played in her younger years and enjoyed watching on TV later in life. She loved Marlborough and spent the first 81 years of her life in the home where she was born on Brimsmead Street. She attended Immaculate Conception School and Marlborough High School, graduating in 1944.

She worked for many years for Raytheon in Waltham. In the 1950's she was one of the first women supervisors for the company, managing the data processing department that programmed payroll. She would tell stories of how her team plugged wires into a large computer to program it.

She walked everywhere throughout town and took the bus to shop in Worcester or Boston. She spoke often of her and friends walking to the Lyonhurst Ballroom to dance or see a big band. She would vacation with her lifelong girlfriends from town. On one trip, she met her future husband, Angelo, at a 'dude ranch' in upstate New York in the mid-1950's. He was from New York City, they corresponded and saw each other over a number of years and were married in 1959 and settled into the Brimsmead Street home. They raised 4 children. She also cared for her mother who lived with the family until her passing in 1981. She was known for her baking, but was also a great cook, using vegetables from the large garden that Angelo tended. She loved doing crafts… all kinds of crafts! Her 'craft room' was where she spent time allowing her artistic side to take root.

When Angelo passed in 1987, she went back to work, spending many years at the Marlborough library in the children's room. She had always loved football, attended high school games and watching her sons play. She became a huge Patriots fan, never missing a game. Discussing the games with her kids and evaluating how the team played that week. She also never missed her favorite shows every evening… Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. She'd give herself a pat on the back whenever she knew the answer and the contestants did not.

She was the kind of grandmother you would wish for your children. Imparting her wisdom to the grandkids through her good deeds and actions and spending time with them baking, playing games, and crafting. They all share fond memories, pictures and videos of time spent with 'Grammy' in her Brimsmead Street home, and in later years at her Shrewsbury condo.

Throughout her life, her constants were faith, the church and love of God. She never missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days. Her faith was part of her being, it was unquestioned. When she could no longer attend Mass in person, she watched it daily on TV.

Antoinette loved, and in turn was loved and adored, by her friends and extended family. She had many nieces, nephews and cousins that would visit regularly. As acknowledged by one of her nieces… 'She was an inspirational woman for all of us. She shared her gift of contentment so that whenever you left her presence, you felt so much better than when you had arrived'.

Antoinette lived a life, and left a legacy, for us to follow. She touched all who knew her through her caring and unassuming personality. She harbored no ill will and saw the goodness in all people. She is greatly missed but won't be forgotten.

Visitation will be on Friday, September 19, from 5-7 PM in the Short and Rowe Funeral Home, 95 W. Main Street, Marlborough, MA.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 20 at 12:00 PM in Immaculate Conception Church, 11 Prospect Street, Marlborough, MA.  Burial will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Beach Street, Marlborough, MA. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Stjude.org) or Special Olympics (Specialolympics.org), or a charity of your choice. 

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