Born March 4,1934 in Poughkeepsie, NY, she was the daughter of the late Pasquale and Ethel DeBellis. She was a graduate of San Bernardino High School and attended St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles where she earned a master’s degree in music. She served as a teacher in the Riverside City Schools.
She married the love of her life, William Oscar Fullenwider on August 28, 1960, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in San Bernardino, CA. William and Tonia moved to the Sacramento Valley in 1965 where they resided and raised their family in the cities of Yuba City, Citrus Heights, and Folsom.
Tonia was a gifted concert pianist and organist and she loved to share her talent with family, friends, and her church family at Holy Family Catholic Church. She enjoyed spending time with her family, playing the piano, traveling, teaching children to play the piano and participating in her church parish’s activities. She also enjoyed baking and gardening with her grandson, and spending time with the Fullenwider Family dogs, Yani and Bernard.
Surviving family members include her loving and devoted husband of 62 years, William Oscar Fullenwider; her sons Bill Fullenwider, James Fullenwider and Stephen Fullenwider. Daughter-In-Law Beth Fullenwider, grandsons Evan Fullenwider and Jeremy Fullenwider as well as granddaughter Cailan Darling, all of Citrus Heights, CA. Tonia is also survived by her sisters Elissa DeBellis Pacifici, Dorothea DeBellis Niessen, Mary Alice DeBellis Leibee, and brother, Michael DeBellis and wife Eva. Also survived by siblings Vita Maria DeBellis-Fitzpatrick, Domenico Vito DeBellis, Thomas Pasquale DeBellis, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Pasquale Giovanni DeBellis and Ethel Rosen DeBellis, brother Pasquale (Pat) Charles DeBellis(Sandy), sister-in-law Geraldine “Jeri” DeBellis, niece/goddaughter Toinette Costakes and Niece Laurie Ann DeBellis.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church in Citrus Heights (7817 Old Auburn Rd.) on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 10:30am with Father John Boll officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Citrus Heights (7101 Verner Ave.)
A vigil and visitation will be held Monday, August 15, 2022, from 3:00-7:00pm at the Reichert's Funeral & Cremation Services in Citrus Heights (7320 Auburn Blvd.)
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Fullenwider Family may be shared at www.ReichertsFuneral.com
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