Antonette Patron
Antonette “Toni” Patron, age 83, of Brainerd passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Brainerd. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11AM on Friday, April 12, 2024 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church and interment will be in Bennettville Cemetery near Aitkin.
Antonette “Toni” Patron was born on October 15, 1940 to Anthony and Hazel Domiano in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She graduated from North High School in 1957. As a young woman, she worked at Dayton’s in downtown Minneapolis; a job that she absolutely adored. Toni met the love of her life, Ernest. The couple married and raised five children in Deerwood, Minnesota. Toni enjoyed being a stay-at-home mother until Ernie’s death in 1977.
Toni worked for many years at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge. First, as a housekeeper; then, working in the laundry room. After her kids had grown, Toni moved from Deerwood to Brainerd. The list of activities she loved to participate in was many. She joined the Geritol Frolics, bell and vocal choirs at St. Francis Catholic Church, and every Thursday, you would find her at the Senior Center at 4:30 in the morning making donuts. Toni shared donuts with everyone; even the gals at the local bank.
Toni was known for being a wonderful cook. Some of her most famous baked goods were Spritz Cookies and cheesecake bars. She made a mean homemade pizza too. Toni was always baking or cooking something and would feed you, whether you were hungry or not.
In her later years, if she was not in the kitchen, she was at some sporting event. Toni loved baseball, football, and softball; it did not matter if she knew who was playing, she went to cheer them on. Everyone knew her at the games, just by Toni, and would expect to see her there for every game. We cannot forget her love for Bingo. Twice a week; the Elks Club and the Eagles Club. It did not matter if she won or not; Toni went to see her friends.
In December of 2014, Toni was diagnosed with Dementia. The disease took its toll, and she passed away on April 2, 2024. She cared so deeply for her friends and family. Toni Will be forever missed by all who knew her.
Toni is survived by her children, Pam (David) Warren, Terri (Ron Olaf), Patty (Gordon) Ford, Peggy (Dan) Lundgren; daughter-in-law, Melanie Patron; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many friends and distant relatives.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Anthony and Hazel (Johnson) Domiano; husband, Ernest Patron; son, Bradley Patron; sister, June Pulvermacher; and brother, Ralph Domiano.