Antoinette "Toni" Marella

Antoinette "Toni" Esposito Marrella, 79, of Elmhurst, Illinois, passed away on August 7th, 2025, after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease and dementia. Antoinette was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anthony Esposito and Cecelia Caliendo Esposito on March 2,1946.

Antoinette married Robert P. Marrella on July 11,1970 in Berwyn, Illinois at St. Odilo Catholic Church. The couple lived in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and she became the owner of a beauty salon.

Antoinette was an avid cheerleader of the basketball team her husband coached; she also was a fan of the Chicago Blackhawks. She enjoyed yoga classes and excelled at line dancing. Antoinette loved her Italian roots and participated in numerous family events.

She was a woman of strong faith, a practicing Catholic. During all that time, she was a loving daughter to her parents, helping them with household chores and driving them to medical appointments. Antoinette was an especially devoted caregiver to her mother Cecelia in her later years.

Antoinette was predeceased by her husband in 2004. She is survived by her sisters Rosemary Fulgaro of Salem, Oregon, and Carmeline Esposito of Evanston, Illinois; her nephews Michael Fulgaro and his wife Lisa of Salem, Oregon, and Anthony Fulgaro and his wife Patricia and their children Nicholas and Faith of Spokane, Washington; her niece Christina Crumlish and her daughters Cecelia and Babette of Oak Park, Illinois; and her cousins Carla and Gregory Zweig of Warrenville, Illinois. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Visitation Thursday, August 21st, from 9am until time of a Mass of Christian Hope at 10am at Visitation Catholic Church, 779 S. York St, Elmhurst. Antoinette will be laid to rest beside her husband in Mary Queen of Heaven Cemetery. For info: www.knollcrest.net or 630-932-1500.