Antoinette Alice Bruno

Antoinette “Toni” Bruno died peacefully and surrounded by her family during the solemnity of Holy Week. Toni “Sis” was the second oldest of seven children born to Alice and Tom Abrahamson. Sis lived contently with her beloved parents, Yaya and siblings in Chewelah, WA. Her Grandmother Jane, many aunts and uncles and cousins provided her with a rich family life filled with swimming, picnics and huckleberry picking. Attending Mass and school at St Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church in Chewelah was a central and defining activity in Toni’s growing up. Her faith upheld Toni throughout her life.

After graduation, Toni attended telegraph school. Then she accepted a position with the railroad where she met Robert Bruno. They were introduced by a mutual friend who worked on the railroad with them. They were married for 73 years before Robert’s death in 2021. They had three daughters, Roberta, Judy, and Jayne. The eldest daughter was profoundly disabled following a serious illness contracted at 18 months old. Toni and “Bob” lovingly cared for her in their home for 47 years until her passing.

During Toni’s married life she worked as a lead operator on the switchboard at Tektronix in Beaverton. She and Bob took the family on many summer vacations, including Disneyland, Yellowstone, and Kah-nee-Ta. Annual road trips were made to visit Toni’s Mom and Dad. Holidays were celebrated with Toni’s sister, Dorothy, and her family in Washington.

When Toni retired, she volunteered as a telephone receptionist at the City of Beaverton. She made annual trips to visit her daughter, Judy, and her family in Tennessee and then Michigan. When Judy’s son, Jason, was old enough. He came out to spend summers with Grandma and Grandpa in Beaverton. When Jayne’s daughter, Carly, was born, Toni and Bob were her loving care providers while Jayne and Steve were at work.

Toni and Bob were members of St Cecilia Catholic Church for nearly 50 years. They attended Sunday Mass reverently and Mom’s faith never faltered. They both volunteered for the St Vincent de Paul Society. Toni was an active member of the “Our Lady of Good Council” chapter of the Catholic Daughters of the America’s based at St. Anthony’s in Tigard. And she enjoyed attending bible study with her friends. In recent years, Toni and Bob joined their daughters’ parish, Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Toni’s life was filled with faith, family, and friends, most especially, her long-time neighbor Marlene, who hosted many scrapbooking and gingerbread house making get togethers. Toni will be remembered as a cherished wife of Bob, a proud and loving mother-in-law to Ray and Steve and grand-daughter-in-law, Tabitha, an adoring Grandma to Jason and Carly and warm-hearted “Gigi” to Ava and Jaxon.

If you wish, donations may be made to the St Vincent De Paul Society at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Beaverton or the St Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church in Chewelah, WA.