Antoinette T. Reynolds
August 10, 1920 - December 16, 2010

Antoinette Toni Reynolds opened her heart to so many through the years as she was loving and accepting of all who crossed her path. She had that special something, a certain sparkle that drew others to her like a warm and crackling fire. Toni viewed being a wife, mother, and homemaker to be both her greatest gift and her highest calling. Traditions that were precious during her childhood grew to encompass the many branches on her own family tree, and it will be her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who will be proud to carry on her legacy of generosity, compassion, and hospitality.

With the dawn of the 1920s, America was looking ahead as we were converting from a wartime economy to peacetime economy. When weapons for World War I were no longer needed, there was a temporary stall in the economy. After a few years, however, the country prospered. During this decade, America became the richest nation on earth and a culture of consumerism was born. It was within this vibrant decade that the family of Joseph and Grace (Farley) Cihak were overjoyed with the birth of their daughter, Antoinette, on August 10th. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Toni, as she was often known, was one of seven children in her family including her siblings Joe, Grace, Ben, Joyce, Bob, and Joanne. Her father was the owner of Liquidating Sales Company in Muskegon while her mother was a homemaker. Tonis earliest years were spent in the family home on Bishop Street in Chicago, and her family took summer vacations to Muskegon. She and her brother, Ben, took the train to Muskegon from Chicago while the rest of the family arrived in their Model T. Toni and Ben were responsible for taking their very noisy family bird on the train, but tending to the bird once on board usually fell solely on Tonis shoulders since her brother was too busy flirting with all the girls on the train!

When they later moved to a home on River Road in Muskegon, Tonis father built Gracemere and decided to raise peacocks. Peacocks are very noisy birds and when Toni was trying to sneak in late one evening, the birds created quite a ruckus and blew her cover. Perhaps that is why Toni disliked peacocks throughout the rest of her life. She attended school during her elementary and junior high school years at Reeths-Puffer School on River Road and went on to become a proud 1938 Big Red graduate from Muskegon High School.

After high school, Toni continued her studies at Muskegon Business College Secretarial School and received her secretarial certificate. With her education behind her, Toni secured employment at Sealed Power. It was there that she met the man with whom she would establish the family she cherished. His name was Gordon E. Reynolds and after dating for a time, the couple married on September 4, 1948, in Muskegon. They initially settled into a home on Moulton Avenue in North Muskegon, but moved to a home on Scenic Drive in 1955.

Together Toni and Gordon were blessed with two children: Pam in 1950 and Deb in 1953, and she also embraced her stepchildren: David, Paul, and Barbara Jeanne. The Reynolds family was always bustling with activity. Some of their favorite things to do together included traveling, playing cards, spending time at the cabin in Kaleva, going mushrooming with Aunt Bertine, snowmobiling, and playing tennis. Sundays were always reserved as a time for the whole family to gather together over dinner.

The Cihak family, Tonis family of origin, was filled with traditions around the Christmas holiday each year, and these traditions are carried on in Tonis family today. On Christmas Eve, the family gathers for a traditional Bohemian meal consisting of fish, oyster stew, potatoes, apple strudel that was made the day before, and cocoa. Silent Night is always sung and The Lords Prayer is recited as well. Santa comes and each child sits on his lap and since the family has grown so much throughout Tonis lifetime, there are now close to 60 people present each year. Little has changed over the years except the addition of a few dishes to the menu with so many mouths to feed these days.

Tonis tender heart touched so many more than just those who were in her family. She was a longtime member of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ where she was actively involved including as a Sunday school teacher. Toni also served as a Girl Scout leader and on the boards of the Crippled Childrens Society, Muskegon Community College, and First of America Bank. She was very active with the Muskegon Community Foundation, even helping develop the foundations Ambassadors Club, and she served as the co-chair of the Hilt Building fund drive. Toni loved to entertain and was always hosting people at her home whether it was for a party or a game of bridge. Their dogs were always an important part of the household, especially Kal their beloved Labrador. Toni later loved it when her grand dogs would visit. When Gordon retired in 1980, they wintered in Naples, Florida, where Toni continued to spread her warm and bubbly ways to those around her.

Although Antoinette Reynolds loved things like gardening, entertaining, and playing bridge, nothing brought her greater joy than being with her family. She was a classy lady and a genuine people person who was so much fun to be around. Toni was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be deeply missed.

Antoinette Reynolds died on Thursday, December 16, 2010. Tonis family includes her children, Pamela (Barry) Garabedian and Deborah (Michael) Collett, both of Muskegon, David (Norma) Reynolds of Whitehall, Barbara Jeanne Holden of Long Beach, CA; daughter-in-law, Linda Reynolds of Bellingham, WA; grandchildren, Lisa (John) Maskell, Steven (Julie) Reynolds, Megan (Jim) Perreault, Scott (Amanda Marshall) Garabedian, Scott Reynolds, Michael Holden, Tim Collett, Stacy, Jason, and Colin Reynolds; 9 great-grandchildren; sister, Joanne Blakkan of North Muskegon. Toni was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, in 2001; son, Paul, in 1997 and grandson, Lance Reynolds; sisters, Joyce Singerling and Grace Appelt; brothers, Joe, Ben and Bob Cihak. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 6, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, with Rev. Tim VanderHaar officiating. Visit with Tonis family and friends on Wednesday, 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home Muskegon location Muskegon, Michigan. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial donation to Community Foundation for Muskegon County-Gordon & Antoinette Reynolds Fund or First Congregational Church UCC Endowment Fund.

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