Tommasina Buffenbarger

Tommasina Buffenbarger passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 21, 2024. Toni, as she preferred to be called, was born May 10, 1938, in Ludington, Michigan, to parents, Augustus and Tommasina (Barzano) Becker. Her father named her while her mother was sleeping. He forgot to give her a middle name.

Toni grew up in rural Michigan, spending much of her youth in Irons, and graduated from Norman-Dickson High School in Brethren, Michigan, in June of 1956. Life was difficult in that area, but you would never know it to talk to her. She had a wonderful upbringing, with lots of friends, such as lifelong friend, Beth Rouse. In Beth's words, they did some good things and some bad things, and guess which ones they'd laugh about now. Toni's stories of life in those backwoods entertained her family many times.

She met and married John DaValt in Villa Park, Illinois, on June 8, 1957. They had two sons and life ultimately led to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where she spent many years first as the secretary of the Methodist Church, and then as the secretary at Hyland Prairie Elementary School. This happened to be the same school that her sons had attended years earlier, while it was still a three-room schoolhouse. She felt right at home. Besides work and family, she also had many dogs and volunteered for the local Humane Society. She set out food for stray cats brave enough to visit a home with five dogs. No person or creature ever went hungry around her.

Her second marriage was to Roger Buffenbarger of Scottville, Michigan, on September 1, 2000. This led to her moving back to her childhood region of Michigan, and acquiring a name that would not fit on most legal documents. They enjoyed nine wonderful years together until his death in October of 2009.

Toni lived much of her remaining years in her rural Scottville, Michigan home, where she single-handedly kept dozens of deer, turkeys and other creatures fed throughout long winters having feet, not inches, of lake effect snow from Lake Michigan. Which sounds quite noble unless you're the one who has to haul 400 pounds of shelled corn from the co-op to her garage every time you visited.

In her golden years she moved to Stoughton, Wisconsin, where she found new friends and experiences. Life at this time was more challenging for her, having been very independent her entire life. She was after all Italian and stubborn, attributes she was always quick to mention to others. But people soon learned that she was also sweet, exceptionally funny, and very very nice. She made friends. Her family had always enjoyed the benefits of having an Italian mother, with all that entails.

Toni is preceded in death by her first husband, John DaValt; her second husband, Roger Buffenbarger; her parents; her sister, Marie Becker; her brother, August Becker; her sister, Dolores Leversen; and her grandson, Collin DaValt.

She is survived by her two sons, Greg (Donna) DaValt of Chandler, Oklahoma, and Brian DaValt of Stoughton, Wisconsin; and her granddaughter, Brian’s daughter, Cassandra DaValt of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and her sister, Josephine Becker of Franklin, Kentucky; and by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the home of Brian DaValt, 1932 W. Milwaukee St., Stoughton, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. A private burial will be held at a later date. All are welcome to come and remember and tell stories.

The family would like to thank the staff at Milestone Senior Living, Azura Memory Care and Agrace Hospice for their outstanding care.

Toni always liked to thank people with plates of cookies. Friends, mechanics, the man who came to clean out the septic system, the entire truckload of firemen who came to the house that day to turn off the beeping smoke detectors, which I suspect she did intentionally. She never lacked for people wanting to help her. She was kind, friendly and giving.

And so in lieu of flowers, and if you are of a mind, perhaps you could give someone a plate of cookies. Or give an animal a bag of corn, or sunflower seeds to some birds. Toni would like that.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590