Carol A. (Cantalini) Tonioli, age 87, a resident of the Corcoran House family, Clinton, MA the last few years, passed away suddenly and peacefully on Sunday evening April 26, finally rejoining the love of her life of 65 years Vic.

Born on March 9, 1939, Carol was the youngest of 12 children born to Italian immigrant parents, Germano Cantalini of Abruzzo, Italy, and Giovannina “Jennie” (DeCarolis) Cantalini of Caserta, Campania, Italy. The family grew in Leominster and Springfield, Massachusetts. Although two siblings passed away in childhood, the remaining five sisters and five brothers remained closely bonded throughout their lives, eventually growing into a family legacy that included more than 50 grandchildren.

Raised in a lively Italian-American family, Carol carried those same qualities throughout her own life. She was sharp, funny, strong-willed, and impossible to forget—someone who always kept her family on their toes. After living many adventurous years in Las Vegas and Cottonwood Cove with Vic, fishing, camping, traveling and spending time outdoors with her family, once retired they spent years traveling cross-country between the Northeast, Las Vegas and Titusville, FL creating decades of memories with family and friends. In later years they returned to Leominster to live the next chapters of their life to be near family and surrounded by the love of grandchildren and great grandchildren, which Carol continued to enjoy for 6 years after Vic's passing.

Family was at the center of Carol’s life. One of the Cantalini family’s proudest traditions is an annual family picnic held during the last Sunday of June, a gathering that has continued uninterrupted for 62 consecutive years. Each summer, family members gather to reconnect, share updates, hold hands, and pray together. As the youngest, or “baby,” of the original family, Carol became the heart of the tradition, proudly orchestrating the annual introductions and prayer each year. The Family Picnic was her Super Bowl and it brought her immense joy.

Those closest to Carol knew her love of poker, cocktails, and saying exactly what was on her mind. Beneath her strong personality was a woman who loved fiercely and devoted herself deeply to her family.

Carol was predeceased by her beloved husband, Victor Tonioli, and is survived by her children, Ann Marie Ferguson and husband Douglas of Holyoke, Victor Tonioli Jr. of Springfield, MA, Lisa Tonioli and Bruce Dougan of Searchlight, NV, Linda Malatos and husband Michael of Leominster, MA, and David Tonioli and wife Linda of Halifax, MA; her beloved grandchildren, Stacey Ferguson (husband Brendan Mruk), Derek Ferguson (wife Christine), Sarah Flaherty (husband Ian), John Perry (wife Tara), Sam Malatos (wife Taylor), Joseph Malatos, Ty Tonioli, Frank Tonioli (wife Maria), and Kristina Tonioli; along with thirteen great-grandchildren, many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and lifelong friends. She is also survived by her brother, Frank Cantalini of Wilbraham, MA, and her sister, Rita Benoit of Indian Orchard, MA.

Funeral services will be held June 5, 2026 at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Winchendon, MA at 10am with a celebration of life immediately following at Brady's Restaurant, 37 Mechanic St., Leominster.

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