Jean Tonti was born and raised by Italian Immigrants, Rose and Domenic Tonti in Ogden, Utah. She was the eldest of three sisters, Loreta Woodward (Steve, deceased) and Mary (Glenn) Miller. Her sisters admired her wisdom and savvy style. In 1969, she was named First Attendant in the All-State Italian Day beauty pageant. She was always studying and grew up in a lively home with three generations and homemade Italian meals.

Jeannie was a naturally gifted genius with a photographic memory who excelled from an early age, attending Sacred Heart Academy at age 4 and then St. Joseph Catholic Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, where she earned straight A’s. A gifted writer and editor, she learned five languages, was a cheerleader, active in many clubs, won numerous awards, became Valedictorian, and received full-ride scholarships to Georgetown, Notre Dame, and Gonzaga before attending the University of San Francisco. She sought knowledge and freely shared it, even writing Mary’s high school oratory speech on living with schizophrenia, which won first place in Utah. She helped her nieces and nephews with homework, guiding them to science fair wins, spelling bees, and many other awards. No task was too great, and no assignment too small for her.

During her first semester of college, early signs of mental illness and fatigue emerged, beginning a 54-year battle with schizophrenia that forced her to leave her studies. After returning home, she worked as an Admin Assistant at Sears for 10 years before building a career at Hill Air Force Base as a supply technician. She was also a writer for the Hilltop Times, Intermountain Catholic Newspaper, and loved featuring locals in the Ogden Standard-Examiner.

Jeannie called herself “mother” to her four nieces and nephews, Niki (Christian) Barwick, Stephanie (Thomas) Franken, Michael (Bret Morrell) Woodward, and James Miller. She truly was a mother to her “kids.” She would pick them up from school in her cool yellow Mazda car, dressed in whatever fashion defined the decade, looking like a model every time. Afternoons meant fun. Peter Piper Pizza, Chuck-E-Cheese, Chuck-A-Rama, wholesale candy stores, Hastings, The Bookateria, Library, and Farr’s Ice Cream (where she proudly reminded them it was her first job). She was also the first in the family to have a computer filled with fun learning games.

She wrote several books and poetry. One book was about her parent’s upbringing during World War II and her family’s immigration to America, and another was an autobiography, “Clipped Wings,” about living with schizophrenia.

She enjoyed spending time with everyone, especially spending time with her great-niece and nephews, Lydia Franken, Domenic Franken, Vinny Barwick, and Luca Barwick. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and enjoyed her weekly visits with the Eucharistic Ministers, especially Sherri and Laurie.

The fight her body endured, the voices, and the 20 pills a day continued all the way to the end. And still, her body held on. She was the strongest person we knew and even fought to hear goodbye from the whole family before her final peaceful breath, surrounded by family.

On behalf of Jeannie, we wish to thank everyone who showed her love, care, compassion, and patience, even when she was not herself. Especially those who called, visited often, helped in countless ways, took her out to eat at the Greenery, Pizzeria, Ligori’s, or brought her Arctic Circle.

Special thanks to Hidden Valley Assisted Living, Jenny, Tyler, Angelique, Olivia, Salina, Katie, Nancy, Shandee, Hunter, Inspiration Hospice, and her NP, Carli Thompson, who never missed a beat in caring for her.

Holy Rosary will be held Sunday, March 1 at 6:00 p.m., followed by a viewing until 8:00 p.m., at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1100 E. 5550 S., South Ogden. A viewing will be held Monday, March 2nd from 10 to 10:45 a.m. followed by the funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, with interment at Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd., and a luncheon to follow at the Holy Family Social Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jean Tonti to:

St. Joseph Catholic High School Fine Arts Theater for improvements to the lighting and sound board system, 1790 Lake St. Ogden, UT 84401. You may also donate online at: www.stjosephutah.org/donate.

OR

Huntsman Mental Health Foundation, 500 S Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108. You may also donate online at: https://huntsmanmentalhealthfoundation.org.

Buona sera, ti voglio bene (Good night, I love you very much). We love you always and forever and know your memories, wisdom, and strength will live on in everyone you have touched.

With “clipped wings” Jeannie can finally fly! May she rest in peace and hear all the beautiful voices of heaven!

Funeral Mass will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Jeannie’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com where condolences may also be shared.