Antoinette Spicer

Antoinette Stella Haske Spicer went to be with her Lord on March 3 at 3:03 PM while the Divine Mercy Chaplet was being prayed by the family around her bedside. Antoinette (Toni), was born on December 17,1929 in Washington DC the youngest child of John Henry Haske and Rose Estelle Haske who owned a bakery in the Brookland section of Washington DC near Catholic University. As a young girl, many priests, religious sisters, faculty members of Catholic University would frequent the bakery, including a young priest named Fulton Sheen. Perhaps from these early interactions, Toni always had special treats for priests and other religious.
In 1938 the family moved to Front Royal, Virginia opening a new bakery and becoming active parishioners in the newly formed parish, Saint John’s Catholic Church. It was in Front Royal that Toni and her sister, Roberta received their religious instructions from a young Irish priest, Father Martin Quinn, who would become a lifelong family friend and the pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Alexandria, Virginia where Toni and her children would attend school and Holy Mass for many years.
Shortly after graduating from Washington Lee High School in 1948,Toni join the United States Marine Corps on her 20th birthday. This made her the youngest female Marine and in January 1950 she appeared on the cover of the Marine Corps Times under the caption “The Babe of The Marine Corps.” On November 25,1950 Toni married a fellow Marine Frank D Spicer Sr. They would have 10 children (7 who survived ) this was Toni’s greatest blessing and joy! Very early in life, she introduced each of them to Jesus Christ. Done with Bible stories, various seasonal religious traditions, daily prayer, attending Holy Mass as a family and gathering each day for prayers, followed by a delicious home-cooked meal. Her generosity extended to everyone in the neighborhood and the Spicer home became a beehive of love with Toni as the mother bee.
Toni had a great love for all of God‘s creation particularly dogs and the ocean. She lived the last 36 years 1 mile from the ocean in Myrtle Beach with her youngest son, Peter and her little dog Rufus. Always a faithful practicing Catholic active in the parish of Saint Andrews, Myrtle Beach.
Toni is survived by her seven children, Frank D Spicer Jr (Sally), John W Spicer (Patty), Rosemarie Spicer Bruno (Nick), Mary Spicer Sample (Wade), Joseph M Spicer (Teresa), Michael A Spicer (Kim), and her youngest son, Peter A Spicer, who was her constant companion and helper in later life for 59 years. Toni lost her best friend and beloved sister, Roberta, at the young age of 31 and her 4 children, Steve, Theresa, Greg and Danny became her “adopted” children who she loved as her own, and who loved her in return deeply. Toni was preceded in death by her brother John H Haske and sister, Sr. Mary Stella, CSC.
In addition to her children, Toni is survived by 24 grandchildren and 51 great grandchildren whom she tenderly loved. Everyone meeting Toni received great kindness and were blessed by her unconditional love. Shortly before going home to Heaven, when asked what she would like us to remember, she said “love God, love each other, love others and always keep the faith”. She also constantly said throughout her long days silently suffering in her bed, “thank you dear God for all my blessings.” Her final words whispered with great effort “I love you very much and thank you.”
In Lieu of Flowers please make a donation to The Luminaries of Holy Mary. C/O Mary Sample 3022 Ingelow Lane Charlotte NC 28226.

At the conclusion of the funeral mass listed below, a reception will be held at the church.