Dee Dee was born and raised by her loving parents, Joe and Lena Farrant, in Fresno, CA. She attended San Joaquin Memorial High School where she met Victor Antonino. It was love at first sight for them both.
While Vic was serving his country in the Korean War, Dee Dee was attending Fresno City College majoring in Business Administration. She was a member of the Rally Committee and Future Business Leaders of America. While being a popular Pep girl in her Freshman year, her classmates chose her to be Homecoming Queen in 1954. This gave her the opportunity to meet the then current Miss America, Lee Ann Meriwether. Dee Dee also appeared on local T. V. and radio shows.
As soon as Vic was discharged from the U.S. Army, he popped the question and the two were wed in October 1955. On October 22, 2025 they celebrated 70 years of happily married life together. Dee Dee lived for family. She was a loving devoted mother to her 3 children, Vicki, Joe, and Marci. She made every holiday and birthday party feel like the most special event in the world. She had a real knack for entertaining and bringing people together. She continued this throughout her life by organizing every one of her High School Reunions (right up until 3 years ago). She was also involved in organizing parties for the "over 55" community her and Vic lived in for the last 16 years.
She will always be remembered having a sharp sense of style and being fashionable with class and elegance. She stayed young at heart, always interested in current music and cultural trends and events.
Dee Dee was a hard-working mom who managed well known women's clothing retail stores like The Gunny Sack in Manchester Mall, Dotty Deans in Fashion Fair Mall and Normart's Furs in Northwest Fresno.
Once Dee Dee's Grandchildren started coming along helping to babysit them became her new passion. She loved her 6 Grandchildren Nicole, Danielle, Erin, Michael, Nicholas, and Kyle with all of her heart and soul. She was the coolest and funniest Gramie/Nana/Nanny imaginable. She was the best mother-in-law to Ted Nix, Scott Nabors, and Terrie Antonino. She was blessed with 11 Great Grandchildren who called her GG.
She will be forever missed for her beautiful smile with the most amazing dimples, great sense of humor, wonderful sense of style and grace. All of her family will cherish the sweet way she always walked them out to their cars smiling, waving goodbye, and blowing kisses while they drove off.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 10:00am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church 355 E Champlain Ave Fresno, CA 93730.
Family request that any Remembrances made in Dee's memory be made to: Valley Children's Hospital 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, CA 93636
