Antoinette W. Yager (known as ‘Toni’ by everyone), age 100, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, in Perris, California, surrounded by family. Toni was born September 6, 1918 to Ignatz and Marie (Burysek) Wosta in Portland, Tennessee. Raised on a farm, Toni enjoyed helping her father in the field and helping her mother in the kitchen. Toni’s first language was Bohemian, which was the only language of her mother. Speaking only Bohemian was a challenge in her early years of schooling, but in later years she was very proud that she was bilingual. After graduating from high school, Toni moved to Toledo, Ohio, following her 2 older brothers. There she was a live-in nanny for a family with triplets. The father of the triplets introduced Toni to his co-worker, Orval. Toni and Orval married in 1948 and enjoyed 32 happy years of marriage, until Orval’s passing in 1980. Toni enjoyed being a homemaker and mother to their three children - Scott, John and Linda. After dreaming of a life in California, the family packed up and moved to San Diego in 1970. For the last year and a half Toni lived with Linda and her husband Danny, in Perris, CA.
Toni enjoyed many things in her life. She was an avid baker, entering in the Del Mar (San Diego) County Fair for 40 years straight. She submitted up to 10 items per year, ranging from cookies, breads, cakes, her famous cinnamon rolls, candies, and pastries. She won an enormous amount of ribbons. Toni also loved sewing (aprons and quilts), cooking (Thanksgiving was almost always at her house), and making ‘dusting’ mitts. Toni never learned to drive a car, but with all of the sunny days in San Diego, Toni enjoyed walking 3 or 4 miles every day in her neighborhood. All of the neighbors knew her. Toni also greatly enjoyed the fellowship she had at her church and with her Bible study groups. As age crept up on her, she enjoyed countless hours of word-search puzzles and solitaire. Toni enjoyed being with family and friends, had a great sense of humor and always had a happy, positive attitude.
Toni was preceded in death by her 9 siblings, and is survived by her 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank Isabel, Sara, and Jerrold of Pacific Hospice for their wonderful care of Toni, as well as Dr. Lynne Champagne for the many years of care she provided.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 19, 2018 at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92121, where family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. A Reception will be held at El Camino Memorial Park immediately following the main service and a brief graveside service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of San Diego, 5055 Governor Drive, San Diego, CA, 92122, or to Liberty Baptist Church, 13630 Edgemont Street, Moreno Valley, CA 92553.
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