Antoinette Bracco

Antoinette (Toni) Bracco, 93, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2018, at her home in Claridge Court, Prairie Village, Kansas. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Mary and Peter Smoljan, brothers Charles and Walter, and beloved husband Armando Bracco. A private service is planned.

Toni was born Antonija Smoljan in Mostar, Yugoslavia on December 17, 1924. She came to the United States through Ellis Island in 1930 with her mother, Mary, and two older brothers, joining her father Peter in NY. Upon arrival, she was 5 years old, listed as 3’3”, speaking no English at all. Her mother died in childbirth a year after arriving in NYC. Left with 3 children to raise, Toni’s father planned to move to the Chicago area to find work during the depression. Her father placed Toni in a convent in New York, thinking she was too young, and was going to take the two boys with him. However, during a last visit to the convent, her father found lice in her hair and immediately took her with him to Chicago. Could you see Toni as a nun? For a time, the 3 children were placed in a Croatian group home while her father worked. The family finally settled in East Chicago, Indiana. Upon graduation from high school, Toni went to Indiana University where she became a register nurse, a fact she was very proud of. During World War II, she served as a Navy nurse in San Francisco.

She returned to East Chicago and met the love of her life, Armando Bracco. They married in 1949. They raised two sons, Brian and Robert, in Munster, Indiana. Toni worked as a nurse at Marshall Fields in Chicago, then opened a very successful health food business in the late 60’s. After 37 wonderful years of marriage her husband passed away.

Toni enjoyed golf, bridge, travel, living on Sanibel Island, watching sports and spending time with family. If you knew Toni, you know she lived life to the fullest and “did things her way”, to quote Frank Sinatra. She could be a force of nature.

In 2012, Toni moved to Prairie Village, Kansas. She lived independently, as she did everything else in life, until the last few years. Although her health was failing, her mind remained sharp. She had a wonderful spirit, a keen sense of humor, always had a new idea to share, had great style (thank you Chicos) and loved life.

She leaves behind her two sons Brian Bracco (Sarah) of Leawood, Kansas, and Robert Bracco (Lisa) of Columbus, Ohio, three wonderful grandchildren, Adam (Kelly), Nicholas (Alysha) and Isabella and five beautiful great-children.

We thank all those friends and staff at Claridge Court who enriched our mother’s life these past 5 plus years. A special thanks goes to all Toni’s caregivers with Always There Health Care and Crossroads Hospice for their compassionate care. There are angels among us.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in her honor. Condolences can be made online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com.