Antoinette Churruca's Obituary
Antoinette Castellano Churruca, 87, of Tampa, FL, passed away on May 12, 2026, after a long illness. Born in the Bronx, NY, she moved here at the age of 13. Antoinette was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Jose Churruca, Sr., parents Angelo and Mary Castellano, and sister Josie Sardegna.
Antoinette is survived by her daughter Stephanie Perez (Juan), son Jose Churruca, Jr. (Shabana), granddaughters Eleni Perez, Gianna Perez, and Anisa Churruca, nephew Jack Sardegna (Kim), great nephews Angelo Sardegna and Dominic Sardegna, cousin Jenny Paloumpis (Tom), and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Antoinette was a New Yorker at heart. She happily shared stories of growing up with lifelong friends who would often travel to Tampa to escape the NY cold and stay with her. When they visited, you could often find them in the kitchen preparing and sharing their specialty dishes or desserts. Family and friends have enjoyed her famous pignolata for many years, often calling to find out if it was ready.
A graduate of Jefferson High School, Antoinette worked hard at the family business (Castellano Grocery) as a teen. Her career actually began as an ophthalmic secretary/bookkeeper for the late Drs. Anthony Perzia and Claude Poliak. She later joined Hillsborough County Public Schools at Tampa Bay Blvd. Elementary School as a paraprofessional assisting in all aspects of student learning, including working with ELL/ESOL students and special grant funded programs. Many students have remained in contact and included her in weddings and showers over the years. She loved that work and her favorite years there were with the amazing 4th/5th grade team of teachers upstairs.
Her passion was gardening and she was blessed with a green thumb. The garden included seasonal vegetables, flowering trees, pineapples and her special orchids. The beauty of the garden brought her complete pride and joy.
Special thanks to her outstanding caregivers over the last two years: Barbara, Dayana, Isabel, Isel, Maria, and Vicky. Thank you also to William, Judy, and her wonderful hospice nurse Joel and Burgundy Team members.
You may honor Antoinette’s memory with flowers or by making a charitable donation to LifePath Hospice at https://chaptershealth.org.
Public visitation will be held on Monday, June 1, 2026 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Boza & Roel Funeral Home, 4730 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33603
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