Antoinette "Toni" Elizabeth Stark

Antoinette Elizabeth Stark, Toni to many, answered to a remarkable collection of names over her 103 years; Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Grandma Bunny Fizz, Iron Man, and probably a few others depending on who was calling.

Yvette and her children called her Grandma Bunny Fuzz, inspired by Toni's soft white hair and its resemblance to bunny fur. Nikki, Nico, Natika, Zachary, and Jacob called her Iron Man, a playful nod to Tony Stark, the comic book character behind the superhero, Iron Man. Their Toni Stark may not have had a high-tech suit of armor, but the nickname stuck. Whatever name you used, there was only one Toni.

Toni was born on August 2, 1923, in Endicott, New York, to Isadore Vivona and Fredirika Marie Kunzler. Her father, Isadore, was born in Italy in 1904, and her mother, Fredirika, was born in Brooklyn, New York, that same year. Toni had one brother, Gacimo, known as Jack.

In 1944, she married Clare Albert Stark Jr., known as Bud. Together, they had four children, Nancy, Clare (known as Crickett), Steve, and Julie (known as Juele). Toni and Bud later divorced. Bud died in November 1987.

Toni had the kind of resourcefulness that could turn a piece of fabric, a ball of yarn, a good recipe, or a garage-sale bargain into something worth remembering. She sewed, knitted, crocheted, drew, wrote poems and limericks, baked, and canned vegetables and meat. She taught members of her family how to sew and made countless dresses over the years, including prom gowns and homecoming dresses. If necessary, she could put together and stitch a homecoming dress in about three hours.

For Nancy's wedding, Toni didn't merely help. She made the wedding gown and veil, three bridesmaid dresses, the flower girl's dress, and, because apparently that wasn't enough, her own dress and hat.

Her hands rarely seemed to be still.

While volunteering in a hospital nursery, Toni made more than 1000 baby hats, an accomplishment of which she was especially proud.

She also crocheted baby booties that sometimes came out looking like miniature cowboy boots, so naturally she called them cowboy booties. Pairs found their way to Princess Diana, Geraldo Rivera, Dr. Phil, and even some of the Denver Broncos.

And babies were not Toni's only intended recipients.

She also crocheted something something she cheerfully called, Ball Warmers, cozies for a decidedly more adult part of the anatomy. Toni's talent with yarn was matched only by her mischievous sense of humor.

She had a serious appreciation for a bargain, too.

When Yvette was three, Toni found a French provincial canopy bedroom set for her at a garage sale. Yvette adored that bed. Over the years, Toni occasionally came home with things for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren that nobody particularly needed, but that was beside the point. Toni had found a bargain. "Well, you can't leave it there for $0.05," she would explain. There was no arguing with the economics of it.

Toni also made baked beans for every holiday. As she grew older, her family developed something of a ritual around them. They made sure to ask her, "Please make baked beans," and when the holiday arrived, they made equally sure to tell her they were perfect.

Toni loved traveling, dancing, spending time with her friends, and trying her luck at the casinos. Luck often seemed to be on her side. Nikki sometimes joked that Toni might be getting a Gamblers Anonymous membership for Christmas.

Toni, however, wasn't the fluffy-bunny sort of grandma, despite the nickname. She could be sassy. She could be ornery. And she could, by the testimony of those who loved her, be downright cantankerous. She could also make you laugh.

Toni always had a joke ready, and even the most ordinary question could become an opportunity. Ask how she was doing and you might hear, "I'm dead, I just refuse to lay down," or, "I'm good. Good for nothing." Ask how she was feeling and, without missing a beat, she'd answer, "With my fingers." And when a joke was especially naughty, Toni would giggle and flash that huge smile that let you know she was pleased with herself.

Christmas shopping for Toni presented its own challenge. She would insist that she already had "a house full of crap" and certainly didn't need anything else. Peppermint bark or chocolate candies, however, remained acceptable.

Toni worked hard throughout her life as well. While living in New York, she worked at EJ Shoes, IBM, and in a school cafeteria. In 1965, the family moved to Boulder, Colorado, where Toni later worked at StorageTek and the Senior Center in Longmont. She valued friendship and an active social life. In New York, she served as Great Pocahontas in the Redmen's Lodge. She also remained a proud member of Vestal High School's Class of '41. and its 50 Plus Club. At 103, Toni was one of only two members of her graduating class still living. Longevity was just one example of Toni's toughness.

At 91, Toni beat cancer and remained cancer-free. She was also proud of having all her original parts -- and whenever she got a chance to mention her age, she made sure people knew it. Even well into old age, Toni remained remarkably independent. She continued living on her own until she became ill in July. Her daughters, Nancy and Crickett, cared for her at home during her final months.

Toni died at home on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the age of 103.

She leaves her daughters, Nancy and Crickett; her grandchildren, Yvette, Nikki, Amanda, and Nico; and her great-grandchildren, Payton, Adrian, Natika, Zachary, and Jacob.

She was preceded in death by her son, Steve, and her daughter Juele.

Toni lived long enough to see an extraordinary amount of the world change, but the things her family will remember most are wonderfully ordinary; dresses stitched by hand, baby hats and cowboy booties, baked beans at holidays, casino trips, garage-sale treasures, chocolate at Christmas, naughty jokes, a spectacularly good bargain, and that enormous smile when she knew she'd gotten away with saying something she probably shouldn't have.

For 103 years, Toni made things. She made dresses and hats, baked beans and bad jokes, bargains nobody needed and gifts people never forget. More than anything, she made memories for the generations who knew and loved her.

She was a Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Grandma Bunny Fuzz, Iron Man, and always, unmistakably, Toni.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for her loving family.