Antoinette McNally

Antoinette "Toni" Roux-McNally, 96, of Manchester, died August 22, 2003.

Born in Manchester, June 24, 1907, she was the last of 7 children of Henri and Josephine (Bonnette) Plantier. She was a lifelong resident of this city.

She was the founder of the West Side senior center in Manchester, which now bears her name. She retired in 1987 as the center's director after 19 years and numerous awards.

She started in 1966 when she worked as a community aid for CAP, the Manchester Community Action Program. There she did field work visiting families and worked with children and the elderly. The first elderly center, established in 1968, was a bakery on Douglas St. The next home was in a building that once housed a First National in the Squog area of Main St. They later moved temporarily into the AKUV-Workmen's Club, and in 1980 gained a permanent home in the old Storm King Fire House.

Mrs. McNally had previously worked in the shoe industry and for 8 years worked at Forest Hills Factory Outlet. In addition she volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

She was the recipient of numerous civic awards and citations.

She was a tireless advocate for the elderly who always had a beautiful smile and attentive ear for everybody.

She was a communicant of St. Hedwig Church and an honorary member of the St. Hedwig Ladies Guild.

She was married to Eugene A. Roux who died in 1972, and James T. McNally, who died in 1988. In addition she was predeceased by a daughter, Jacqueline Fisher.

Family members include a daughter, Marguerite "Peggy' Butka of Manchester; 6 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren.

A mass of Christian burial was celebrated Tuesday August 26, 2003 in St. Hedwig Church. Burial followed in St. Augustin Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Precious Blood Monastery, 700 Bridge St., Manchester, 03104 or the Maryknoll Sisters, c/o Sr. Ignatia McNally, Box 311, Maryknoll, NY, 10545-0311