Marilyn Toback

Marilyn Toback, 78, was born Oct. 15, 1934 in Boston, MA. She later moved to New York where she graduated from Flushing High School and American Institute of Banking. On May 20th, 1956 she made the best decision of her life and was married to Tony Toback in Forest Hills, NY. Marilyn started her business career at the age of 18 as a uniformed messenger at Chase-Manhattan Bank in New York City. She was also a bookkeeper at the Wall Street Journal. After the family moved to Rockford 45 years ago, she was employed by United Bank and later Life Savings, TCF, Associated Bank and served as Vice President and branch manager. Marilyn was also an Internal Auditor for Calcott Companies. She also enjoyed working part-time at Busch Jewelers.

Marilyn was a member of Temple Beth-El (former president), life member of Hadassah, Northern IL Hospice & Grief Center volunteer, Children's Development Center volunteer and a Pink Lady at St. Anthony Hospital.

Survivors include her husband, Tony of Rockford; son, Mark (Terri) Toback of Santa Cruz, CA; daughter, Nina Toback and her husband, Michael Weiss, of Long Beach, NY; 6 grandchildren, Joshua Toback, Rachel Toback, Asher Toback, Rachel Weiss, Alanna Weiss, and Diana Weiss; sister, Joanie (Todd) Vigor of Wauconda, IL and nephews Eric and Joshua Vigor. Marilyn was predeceased by her brother Frank Bologna.

Marilyn's open heart and welcoming personality was matched by her culinary skills. Every holiday or birthday was an opportunity to invite old friends and new acquaintances into her home. For many years Jewish students from Rockford College gathered around the Toback dinner table to celebrate the holidays.

Marilyn also organized countless special events, holiday meals, family dinners, open houses and various gatherings and parties for her community. One noted highlight each year was the Temple Beth-El Food-A-Rama. Each year Marilyn and her husband Tony could be counted on for preparing hundreds of pounds of baked beans.

Marilyn was loved and admired by so many people. She had a special way of including people so that new friends quickly became dear friends and then life-long friends. She will be missed by all.

Her circle of friends grew not only from the places she worked but from all the places where she volunteered. She gave her time and her heart to the Pink Ladies at St. Anthony Hospital, Hadassah (an international Jewish woman's organization), to the Rockford Jewish Community Center, the Northern Illinois Hospice & Grief Center, the Children's Development Center and Temple Beth-El where she served continually for over 40 years in many capacities; most notably as the congregational president.

Marilyn and Tony loved to visit new places and learn new things. They enjoyed many Elder Hostel vacations. Most recently they took their children and grandkids to Cancun for their fun-filled 50th anniversary and on a Caribbean cruise for their 55th. Marilyn and Tony traveled to many foreign countries of which her favorites were Israel, Italy and Thailand.

For those who loved Marilyn it is hard to imagine a world without her. She was a source of comfort, wisdom, friendship and laughter to all her who were privileged to know her.

Her generosity and strength, her boundless energy and love will be an inspiration to us for as long as we live.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Friday June 7th at Temple Beth-El, 1203 Comanche Drive, Rockford, IL, with Rabbi Binah Wing officiating. Burial in Rockford Hebrew Cemetery. Arrangements by Sundberg Funeral Home, Ltd., 215 N. Sixth St., Rockford, IL. Memorials to Temple Beth-El Youth Group or Northern Illinois Hospice & Grief Center.

11:00 a.m., Friday, June 7, 2013 in Temple Beth-EL, 1203 Comanche Dr., Rockford.

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