Antoinette S. Richter

Daughter of the late Mary Martina (Panepinto) and Louis Martina. Sister to the late Anthony Martina, late Santa Ortiz and Peter Martina. Beloved mother to Kenneth Richter (Mary Hazette), John (Jennifer) Munoz and the late Sandra Richter. Cherished NaNa to Melissa Richter, Louis (Shelly) Richter, Kenneth II (Amy) Richter, Nevin (Katarina) Howard, Aja (Steven) Lekawa, Alyssa (Michael) Richter-Jackson, Hope Richter, Kenny Richter, Antoinette Santamarie Richter (her namesake), Elvis Richter, Brooklyn, Ellie, John Jr & OV Munoz, Great Grandchildren include Rhiannon Brown, Hunter, Louis & Kensley Richter, Dean & Logan Richter, Hazel & Stryker Lekawa, and Ayla and Treyson Jackson. She also leaves behind a heart full of siblings in Buffalo, New York.

During a time of grieving and sorrow, it can be difficult to find joy and celebration.... Unless you knew Ann, or most often called: Mother, Ma, Nana, Aunt, or Cookie. She was a different kind of special. The truly selfless soul that has spent a lifetime caring for and loving others. A person that was given hardships by the handful but managed to exchange it for peace and joy. The kind of mother that could be the greatest human being a son could ever ask for, while also being the sarcastic, stubborn, and fierce pillar that the family relied on to stay strong. Cookie was truly the matriarch of this family; and not just of the Richter's, but for the Muñoz's, Ortiz's, and the Martina's.

To know her was to not only know love, but to know unconditional love. The kind of love that is filled with burden and sacrifice, but also bravery, fearlessness, strength and forgiveness. Forgiveness is hard, but she forgave time after time with a hope that made the angels proud.

This is less about her life and more about her legacy. Sure, she was a passionate Bills fan and true crime junkie, she could listen to Elvis Presley all day with a John Wayne movie playing in the background. But as she has joined the Father above, what we will remember most is that during the time we spent together- we were the most important person in her life. She had an ability to make you feel special in a way no one else could. That no one on earth could ever hurt you because she would be there to protect you. Not even 5 feet tall, she had the heart and soul of a lion. And because of that she has left a wildly profound impact on every person she had met. She taught us what it meant to be patient and kind, strong and courageous. She showed the world how value is not measured by your bank account but more so by the impression you leave on hearts as you grow, and by those measures- she was rich beyond imagination.

She will be forever missed, forever loved, and forever present, for she will be with each of us. Reminding us to be strong, to be forgiving, to live and love everyday. Just like she did.