Antoinette Lee “Toni” Gruenwald, 60, of Bloomington, passed away Friday, April 11, 2025, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Her funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal with Rev. Eric Powell officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington.
Memorials may be directed to Epiphany School.
Toni was born August 5, 1964, in Oxnard, California. She married Steven J. Gruenwald on October 25, 1986, in La Salle, IL. He survives.
Also surviving are two children, Joseph (Lindsey) Gruenwald, Bloomington and Catherine Gruenwald, Normal; three grandchildren, Kolbe, Josephine “Josie,” and John Paul “Jack” Gruenwald; a sister, Sheri (Jonathan) Heins, Mesa, AZ; a brother, Donald (Katherine) Brinker, Tucson, AZ; her father, Donald Brinker, Sr., East Peoria; and her nieces Nina, Halle, Mira, Abby, Zoe, and her nephews Owen and AJ.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Wilma (Ellison) Brinker.
When Toni’s family moved to Bloomington, she met her amazing group of friends, her “Village” who have supported her for twenty-eight years. Toni, actively involved at Epiphany, also taught at Epiphany preschool, teaching three and four year olds. Those preschool teachers were not just her colleagues, but became loving, close friends. She taught so many children who still idolize Mrs. G. But her greatest joy was retiring to become GiGi to her own grandchildren. Toni’s happy place was on a beach, with her toes in the sand, a book and a baby sleeping in her arms, and her family playing in the surf. Toni and her family were lifetime members of Lakeside Country Club. An avid reader, Toni was in a book club with friends, constantly swapping books. Anyone who had ever met Toni knew that she was a fighter like no other. She had been battling a disease for many years, but stood strong in the face of impossible odds, amazing every physician she encountered. As part of her faith journey, Toni continued to pray in thanksgiving for all the blessings in her life. She persevered heroically and was a miracle in every way.
Toni will be forever missed, but her verve for life will carry on in those who loved her. To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.