Antoinette D. Battaglia died August 30, 2021 after a long and courageous fight with pneumonia at Christiana Care, Wilmington surrounded by her family.
Toni, as she was known to so many, was the only child of Louis and Irene (Morgan) Dunn. Her father, Louis, passed while Toni was in High School (St. Elizabeth). She and her mother, Irene, became an unstoppable team and fast friends until Irene’s death. Toni graduated St. Elizabeth High School (1953) and afterward attended and completed Goldey-Beacom Business College. Toni worked at Atlas Power Company.
She met the love of her life Victor Battaglia, Sr. when Victor and she volunteered to help collect donations for March of Dimes. Toni and Victor were married September 17, 1957 in Washington, D.C. while Victor was a law student at Georgetown University.
In 1958 Toni and Victor welcomed into their family Victor Jr. (spouse Sara-jean) and 2 years later Christopher Joseph.
After Victor Sr.’s graduation, for a short time they lived in Pennsauken, NJ. But moved back to Wilmington and were residents ever since.
Their boys attended and completed Tatnall School, the University of Delaware and Delaware Law School. While both boys were studying for the Delaware Bar Exam Toni vowed she would forgo buying a Mercedes Benz if both boys passed the exam… She kept that vow.
In 1999, Toni and Victor Sr. lost Christopher who is survived by his children Rachel and Marc Paul whom she loved greatly.
She never fully recovered from Christopher’s Loss.
In 2006 Victor Jr. was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. She drove him to each and every appointment and was his friend and crutch during his recovery.
Toni involved herself in many charitable works. She was an avid tennis player well into her 80’s (even after surgery on her right lung) and became an avid and competitive bridge player.
She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Victor, Sr., their eldest son Victor Jr. and his wife Sara-jean (Catalano), stepchildren Katlyn Jo Paskorz, Evin Lee Stephens and her family (Anthony and Trinity Rose) Toni’s grandchildren Marc and Rachel Paul, her cousins Edward Morgan, Jr. (Darlene), Susanne Van Zaren (Joe) and Judy Kimble (Richard) and so many others.
We were all truly blessed to have known her.
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