Antoinette Martha Widiger Wells was born on August 9, 1939 in Berwyn, Illinois to Herbert and Helen Widiger. She was the oldest of three sisters. There was nothing more important to Toni than family and friends she made throughout her life.
On a family road trip across the United States in the early 1950s, Toni fell in love with Colorado and vowed to return as an adult. After graduating from Illinois State University with a teaching degree, Toni moved to Aurora, Colorado and became a first grade teacher. She met her future husband Walter in the Airlines Apartments where they both lived.
Toni loved Colorado, especially spending time in the mountains and next to mountain waterways. The mountains always lifted her spirit. She enjoyed camping in her younger years with Walter, and later spending time at Glen Isle outside of Bailey and in Vail with her dear friends.
Toni took a break from teaching to have two children, Susan and Dave. They became the focus of her life and she spent their early childhood taking them to Colorado attractions like the Natural History Museum and Denver Zoo. Summer Sunday afternoons were spent driving in the Colorado mountains as a family.
Family meant everything to Toni, who adored her two younger sisters, Carole and Marje and parents. Vacation time was spent visiting her parents, sisters and their families at each others’ homes and at a ranch in Peaceful Valley, Colorado.
Toni returned to teaching when her children became teenagers. She eased back into education as a substitute and then taught at Willows Child Learning Center as a pre-K teacher for almost 30 years. She loved her students and their families and especially cherished the friendships she built with her co-workers.
When she retired from teaching, Toni began a colossal project of creating family ancestry books for her children, nieces and nephews and extended family. She leaves behind a legacy of family history for generations to enjoy.
Toni leaves behind her daughter Susan and son in-law Dustin, her son Dave and daughter in-law Megan, and grandchildren Reimond, Avin, Ella, Emmerson and Cora. Toni also leaves nieces Meghan and Amy and nephews Dylan, Scott and Jay and their families. They were the center of her world and she loved them more than anything.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Toni’s memory to the Colorado Children’s Campaign or the American Diabetes Association.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Antoinette Wells, please visit our Tree Store.