Antonia Tabayoyon

Antonia Delores Tabayoyon On February 15, 2018, our beloved Mom took her final breath and went home to join our Father in heaven. Mom was born on April 8, 1927, to Mary and Victor Castaneda in Hershey, NB. When she was 6 years old, Mom remembered picking string beans in Idaho. At the age of 11, she met our Dad when the family worked for him in harvesting tomatoes and other vegetables. Mom remembered riding her bicycle from Toppenish to Brownstown every day. Around 1942, Mom lied about her age to get a job at the shipyards in Portland, OR. She worked as a painter and welder. Mom was honored with a trip on the maiden voyage of a victory battleship. She was proud of the fact that she was the only one on the ship that didn’t get seasick. The money she earned was sent home to help her mother raise her siblings. After one year in Portland, Mom returned to the valley to help raise her siblings. In the summer of 1945, the family was picking tomatoes for our Dad when he proposed to Mom. They were married on October 5 of that year. Mom and Dad farmed in the Wapato area and raised 5 kids. Mom’s family was the most precious thing to her. She loved without reservation and didn’t know an enemy. Mom worked at Bayly Manufacturing for 28 years until the doors closed. She loved sewing and at times was asked to be a supervisor, which she refused because she liked working the line. Mom was a pillar in both the Filipino and Mexican communities. She took pride in helping others in any way she could, whether it was to feed them a home cooked meal, teaching English, or assisting with quests to become citizens. Mom loved spending her leisure time crocheting and reading her bible. Not long ago Mom was in church and the pastor, Pastor Ann, asked everybody who wanted to be prayed for to come forward. When it was Mom’s turn, Pastor Ann asked her what she needed praying about. Mom answered, saying, “I don’t need healing, I want the Holy Ghost.” She received Him that day and the church was filled with love. Mom is survived by 5 children, Bert (Louise), Jim (Linda), Emily (Ted) Arreola, Ben, and Arlene (Ron) Reynolds; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, and her 20th great-grandchild is due in May; numerous nieces and nephews; and sisters Angie, Judy, and Glenda. Mom was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Paul, 6 brothers, 2 sisters, and grandson Michael Arreola. A celebration of Mom’s life will be held Friday, February 23, at 11am at the All Tribes Christian Life Center located at the intersection of Highway 97 and Progressive Road. Following will be a potluck lunch at the Filipino Hall in Wapato. We would like to thank all the staff at The Cottage in the Meadow for making Mom’s time there peaceful and comfortable. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cottage in the Meadow. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Antonia Tabayoyon, please visit our flower store.