Toni Delmonte, age 47, of Warsaw, died at home on February 16th, 2009 having waged an epic and courageous 5 year battle with breast cancer. Born in Brooklyn, NY to Ann (DeVito) Martin and Edward Martin, Toni's life was marked not only by many notable accomplishments but also by a kindness and generosity of spirit. She was a 1979 graduate and Salutatorian of Carnarsie High School and a 1983 graduate of Binghamton University. While in college, she developed a keen interest in unions and the advancement of working class interests. In 1985, Toni organized the first New York City chapter of (9 to 5) a union of clerical workers. As a single mother she attended University of Buffalo Law School, graduating in 1991. Upon graduation, she and her husband, Richard Furlong, formed the union/ side law firm, Furlong and Delmonte. Her legal expertise included forming worker owned and run companies to compete against non-union firms. She later joined the firm of Dadd and Nelson in Attica, New York where she engaged in the general practice of law.


Toni was a strong proponent of public education and the welfare of children. From 1994-2004 Toni was a member of the Wyoming Central School District Board of Education and she served as its President from 1999-2004. In 1995 she started a Summer Youth Program for children in the Wyoming area.


But her greatest legacy, noted her husband Richard, was her battle with cancer. Diagnosed in 2004 with advanced breast cancer, Toni's initial goal was to witness her daughter Elissa's 2007 graduation from middle school. Despite five years of weekly regimens of chemotherapy, multiple surgeries to remove brain tumors, and weekly trips to N.Y.C. to receive experimental drugs, Toni never lost her hope, her sense of humor or her will to live. She was an inspiration not only to other patients, but to the doctors and nurses as well.

In addition to her parents and her husband Richard, Toni is survived by three daughters, Monica, Bianca, and Elissa, as well as her sister Renee (Joseph) Power, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Friends of Toni Delmonte may call from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on 2/19 and again on 2/20 at the Weeks Funeral Home, 123 North Main St., Warsaw. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Michael's Church, in Warsaw, on 2/21 beginning at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions in Toni's honor may be made to the Katie's Star Memorial Fund of REBT, Rochester Eye and Tissue Bank, 524 White Spruce Blvd. Rochester, New York 14623.