Winifred (Toni) Schwartz

On Sept. 18, 2018, Winifred (Toni) “Nana” Schwartz passed away peacefully at the age of 85. 
 Toni was born Nov. 20, 1932 in Lancashire, England to John and Emily O’Brien. 
 Toni attended Catholic school and was a member of the Winstanley School of Dance that traveled all over England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. 
 At age 14 she received the honor of playing a title role in “Babes in the Wood” appearing at the Opera House in Belfast, Ireland. The dance troupe played there for six weeks and at the same time continued their education at a Catholic school in Belfast. 
 After school, Toni met Taylor Hale Jr. while he was deployed in England serving in the Air Force and they were married on Nov. 28, 1953. After their honeymoon, Taylor had to leave for the USA while Toni stayed with her parents, getting her documents ready for her trip to America to join Taylor.  
 In July 1954, Toni traveled by train to Southampton to then board the Cunard Ocean liner for her five day journey to New York City. After arriving in NYC, she then traveled by train to Chicago, eventually arriving in Weiser, Idaho to be met by her joyous husband. 
 Toni and Taylor spent most of their life together on the Hale ranch in Midvale, Idaho other than the three years when they lived in Richland, Wash.  Toni had lived in the same house in Midvale since 1960.  
 In May of 1955 they were blessed with a son, Anthony Taylor and in 1958, a daughter, Kathleen Patricia. 
 In 1966 Taylor tragically died due to an automobile accident. 
 In 1968, Toni married Vincent Schwartz and in 1971 were blessed with a daughter, Kerry Margaret. Vince and Toni worked the ranch until Vince’s death in 1991.
 Toni became an American citizen in 1976 and although she loved being an American, she and the children cherished visiting the family in England in which Toni had made over 17 trips. The last trip was in 2014 with Kathy and Kerry, where they traveled to Paris, France as well as in England. 
 Toni was a member of the Catholic Ladies Altar Society, Midvale Boosters and the Weiser River Cowbelles where she was elected president for each one.  
 She was a member of the Holy Rosary Church for over 60 years, chairman of the Midvale Library Children’s Story program, a 20 year member of the Midvale School Election Board, member of the Midvale Lions Club, the Midvale School Music Boosters and worked for 20 years at the Midvale School for the Idaho Foster Grandparent program where she read to the kindergarten children and worked in the Library. 
 Toni is preceded in death by her husband(s) Taylor Hale Jr., Vincent Schwartz, her parents, John and Emily O’Brien, sister, Kathleen (O’Brien) Sykes, brothers John and Anthony O’Brien. 
 Toni is survived by her son Anthony Hale, daughter, Kathleen (Kathy) Bibus, and Kerry Brink, along with son-in-law Keith Brink, daughter-in- law Deanne Hale (passed away Sept. 26, 2018) and grandchildren, Justin Taylor Hale, Matthew and Kolby Brink and Lauren and Conner Melenbacker. She has one brother in England, Peter O’Brien, his wife Iris, along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.
 Funeral services will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Cambridge, Idaho on Nov. 10, 2018. The Blessed Rosary service will begin at 9:45 a.m. with the funeral Mass at 10:30. Graveside services will follow at the Midvale Cemetery at noon. A reception in honor of Toni will be at the VFW following the service. 
 In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Midvale Ambulance Fund or Midvale School Boosters. 
 

Category:

Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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