Antoinette Marie Lavoix

Antoinette Lavoix, 94, passed away into the life eternal on Monday, November 20, 2017 in Sunbury, OH. Antoinette was born on April 23, 1923 in Fexhe-Le-Haut-Clocher, Liege Province, Belgium to the late Alexis Lavoix and Marie Halleux.

She is survived by her twin sister, Marie Lavoix; niece, Marie Antoinette Potts and her husband, Richard; grandnephews, Frank (LaDonna) Potts and Alexi (Caitlin)Potts; grandnieces, Natalie and Nicole Potts and great-grandnephew, Gabriel Potts.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 from 9:30 to 10am at Saint Matthew The Apostle Catholic Church, 807 Havens Corners Rd., Gahanna, OH 43230. A Funeral Mass will be Celebrated at 10am, Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at St. Matthew The Apostle Catholic Church, Gahanna, OH with Fr. Theodore Sill as Celebrant. Antoinette will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Lockborne, OH.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Antoinette's honor may be made to Saint Matthew's Charitable Works, 807 Havens Corners Road, Gahanna, OH. Please make checks payable to St. Matthew Church with "For Charitable Works" in the memo line.

From Marie Antoinette Potts (niece of Antoinette Lavoix):

Antoinette "Tata" was born in Fexhe-Le-Haute-Clocher, Belgium on April 23rd 1923 along with her twin sister Marie to very devote Catholic parents Alexis and Marie Lavoix-Halleux. Her upbringing was very much oriented around the church and their family. Everyday the entire family would say the rosary kneeling on their kitchen chairs.

Starting at the age of 5 she attended the small Catholic school of Noville near their home. And at the age of 12 after her confirmation, she went to boarding school with her sister, where she stayed until WWII started.

Eventually she went to art school in order to avoid being drafted in the German factories. She developed a passion for beautiful art. She took pleasure in gifting her paintings to friends and family.

All throughout her childhood and adult life, the love and respect of her parents and family was very evident. But most of all her faith was her guiding light.

Tata lived a life of service. She never married and lived with her mother all her life and helped raise her sister's daughter Marie Antoinette. And in 1970 at the age of 47, took her driving test in order to take Marie Antoinette to school in the big town. She always wanted to have a small white car with blue interior for the Virgin Mary.

She loved traveling. For Marie Antoinette's high school graduation they went to the Spanish Balearic islands. Where she tried unsuccessfully to go to a bull fight.

One of her favorite Ohio outings was when the horse farm would need grain in Amish country. Even if she sat in the truck the whole time, she enjoyed seeing the farmlands. She would always want to say the rosary during the car ride. And Marie Antoinette would always tell her to wait until they got onto the freeway.

When Marie Antoinette moved to the U.S., she made at least 35 trips to visit her new American family, all the while she was taking care of the home front in Belgium.

She viewed her great nieces and nephews as her own grandchildren and devoted herself to them. Finally when it was time for her and sister to permanently move to the U.S., she embraced it and never looked back. All that mattered to her was to be with her family.

Her biggest accomplished in life at the family level was to teach Marie Antoinette's children as much as she could of the Catholic faith and their Belgian roots. Which in return influenced the youngest Nicole to become Catholic at the age of 14. That jumpstarted the two boys, Frank and Alexi and Marie Antoinette's husband Rick's conversion to the faith and Marie Antoinette's return.

Tata and her sister served the church in their mission to Africa by spending countless hours making dresses for girls. She also loved knitting clothes for Marie Antoinette's children.

Tata was a kind and gentle soul. She was always encouraging even in the hard times. She had profound love for her sister and everyone. She absolutely loved visitors at her home, even if they did not speak the same language. We will always remember her warm welcome with open arms and a kiss.

Marie Antoinette - Her influence and positive attitude and the way she cared for me all my life, helped mold me into the person I am today. I am so forever grateful for her unconditional love. I will miss her deeply. But now I will have her to pray to in heaven.