Ilona Edith Toko

Ilona Edith Toko 1944 – 2011 Ilona Edith Toko died on March 4, 2011, she was 66 years old. Ilona was a torch of kindness and gentleness to her family, friends, library friends and patrons, and so many others whose lives she touched. In her early twenties, Ilona came to Chico from the small New England town of New Ipswich, NH, where she was raised by her first-generation Finnish parents. She laid her roots in Chico where she raised her daughter, Amy, while working at the Chico State University Library. Ilona and her husband, Fred, left Chico for several years to work in the Bay Area, where they started an organic foods company. The opened a bed and breakfast and started an organic asparagus farm in Hilt, CA, and then returned to Chico in 2000. After returning to Chico, Ilona started working at the Butte County Library, retiring in 2010. Ilona loved reading, birding, canoeing, knitting, baking and camping. Her favorite book was Pilgrim on Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. Ilona loved the poetry of Emily Dickinson who expresses her joy in books, nature and wonder for life: There is no frigate like a book To take us lands away, Nor any coursers like a page Of prancing poetry. This traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of toll; How frugal is the chariot That bears the human soul! --Emily Dickinson Ilona’s grandchildren held a special place in her heart; their poems, drawings and other creations decorated her home. She and the grandkids were great cookie makers and rock skippers. Ilona took them on many walks and duck feeding escapades, always followed by a trip to Sherbert’s. Remembering with love, the life of a wonderful person with a generous spirit who touched us all. A great journey it was. Ilona was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Edith Toko. She is survived by her husband of twenty-five years, Fred Marken; daughters, Amy (Tim) Keating, Erin (Graham) Goff and Erica Marken; grandsons, Jordan, Justice, Treyson and Taylor Keating and Ben Goff; granddaughter, Lucy Goff; sister, Laurine (Guy) Holbrook; brother, Carl Toko; sisters-in-law, Cathy Dolton and Frances Ingalls; brother-in-law, Ted Dolton; nieces and nephews, Guy (Amy) Holbrook, Jr., Heidi (Sam) Kalil, Larry (Ellen) Dolton, Sharon (Jeff) Dolton, Jodie Ingalls and Clinton (wife’s name) Ingalls. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, gifts in Ilona’s memory may be made in support of your local library or to Altacal Audubon Society, P.O. Box 3671, Chico, CA 95927. Arrangements are under the direction of Affordable Mortuary, you may send condolences online at www.affordablemortuary.net. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Ilona Edith Toko, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.