Toni Viola Laakso

Toini Viola Laakso (née Hartikainen) lived a remarkable 106 years filled with adventure, creativity, family, friendship, and an unwavering love for her Finnish heritage. A loving mother, grandmother, and friend, Toini (Toni) passed away on October 29, 2026, leaving behind a legacy as colorful and spirited as the life she lived. She was independent, full of personality, and had an extraordinary ability to bring people together. Never one to sit quietly on the sidelines, Toni embraced life with enthusiasm, curiosity, humor, and a sense of adventure that stayed with her throughout her years.

Born on February 8, 1920, in Kuopio, Finland, Toni was the youngest of four children. She carried her Finnish roots with tremendous pride, treasuring the country's traditions, language, music, food, and natural beauty. Finland was always close to her heart, and she returned whenever she could to stay connected to the country she loved so dearly.

Toni married Perttu Laakso in 1946, and the two began their life together abroad, spending time in Oxford, England, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, while Perttu pursued his studies. They eventually settled in Tower Lakes, Illinois, in 1952, where they raised their three children, Liisa, Perttu, and Jan. Toni remained a resident of Tower Lakes for more than 70 years.

Family life was filled with adventure and travel. The family explored destinations throughout the United States, and every three years they made a special summer trip to Finland. Traveling remained one of Toni's greatest joys throughout her life. She loved sharing adventures with her children and grandchildren, visiting places including Egypt, China, Mexico, Brazil, and Panama. Finland was always her favorite, but perhaps her greatest adventure was a trip around the world in 2009. She often joked that airplanes were among the most comfortable places to sleep.

Her love for Finland extended beyond her family. Toni was a founding member of the Finnladies of Chicagoland, a group of Finnish women who celebrated their shared heritage through friendship, food, and traditions. She participated in countless events, including the group's annual sleepover, and spent many years decorating the Finnish Christmas tree at the Museum of Science and Industry. Her love of Christmas was equally legendary at home. One tree simply wasn't enough, and for many years she insisted on having two Christmas trees, stacked one on top of the other.

Art was another lifelong passion. Toni earned a degree in Art Education from the Art Institute of Helsinki, specializing in ceramics. After Perttu's passing in 1972, she began a new chapter, taking additional classes at the Chicago Art Institute to earn her teaching credentials. She went on to spend 16 years teaching art at Barrington-area schools, including Countryside School, where she loved inspiring children to explore their own creativity.

Her artistic spirit was evident in everything she did, especially in her home. Toni was always crafting, creating, gardening, or finding something to transform. From handmade bannisters and cabinet trim to a hand-painted mural surrounding the pool, her creativity could be found in nearly every corner. It was almost impossible to find something she owned that she hadn't somehow altered, decorated, or made her own.

Toni also loved staying active, whether gardening, exercising, or enthusiastically participating in Zumba. She never lost her sense of humor or mischievous spirit. Famous among family and friends for her collection of jokes, she was often the life of the party, bringing laughter, energy, and a little mischief wherever she went. She had a wild and adventurous side and never lost her zest for life—or her taste for champagne.

For the last two years of her life, Toni lived at Lake Barrington Woods, where she embraced yet another new chapter. She enjoyed having a new space to decorate, appreciated the community, and continued making friends wherever she went.

Perhaps what made Toni most extraordinary was her ability to remain entirely herself. She was spirited, creative, independent, and unapologetically full of life. She found joy in the everyday, beauty in creativity, and companionship in the people around her. Above all, she leaves behind a reminder to embrace life wholeheartedly, stay curious, laugh often, and never stop having adventures.

Toni will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Liisa Laakso Jawed (Jerry); her daughters-in-law, Betsy (wife of the late Perttu) Laakso and Judy (wife of the late Jan) Laakso; her nephew, Heikki Hartikainen (Stephanie); and her four grandchildren, Rabia Jawed, Rebecca Jawed, Anne Laakso, and Margaret Laakso, along with extended family and the many friends whose lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Perttu Laakso; her sons, Perttu and Jan Laakso; and her siblings, Elsa Hartikainen, Anni Silander, and Pentti Hartikainen.

A visitation celebrating Toni's life will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with funeral services at 2:30 p.m., at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010.