Vida Sprague Toneri, 93, passed away Saturday, April 24, 2010, at the loving home of her daughter and son-in-law, Leah and Dennis Conyers of Hercules, Calif. She was surrounded by daughters Leah Conyers, Lynn Toneri and her husband, Robb Hink, as well as caregiver Lidia and her husband, Luis, and their son, Carlos. Cali, her beloved cat of 17 years, was by her side. Always giving, Vida schooled her caregiver in English and was fondly called "my teacher" by Lidia.
Vida was born in Lake Stevens, Wash., on May 8, 1916 to Bertha and Frank Sprague. She has three sisters, Florence, France and Betty. Her stepmother, Hilda, is 104 years old. When Vida was 18, she moved to the East Bay of California. When she was 23, she married George Toneri, who was a merchant marine. To this union two daughters, Leah and Lynn, were born. They inherited her spirit and sense of adventure. Vida was a very proud, supportive and generous mother. Vida has three grandchildren, Adryan, Evan and Tara, and a great-granddaughter, Lucille (parents, Tara and Tyler).
Vida was very passionate about her 50-year career in food service. After she left college with an interest in food and nutrition, she acquired her practical training working at the White Linen Tea Room located in the H.C. Capwell's Department Store in Oakland, Calif. After her girls were born, Vida worked part-time with the school lunch program and ran a home-based catering service. In the mid 1950s she joined Brookside Hospital in San Pablo, Calif., as a chef and was later promoted to assistant foodservice director. A great achievement: Vida opened two kitchens for a local firm that had just built both a nursing home and a 68-bed hospital.
On a fishing trip in the late 1960s, Vida discovered Idaho. When Leah finished nursing school and Lynn completed art school, they moved to Ketchum. On a visit in 1969, Vida was asked to open a new kitchen at Moritz Community Hospital in Sun Valley. Vi's kitchen quickly became known as "Chez Vi." She was well known and admired for her exceptional service and lauded as the "chef of the mountain." Vida loved to nurture and photograph the flowers, vegetables and fruit trees in her extensive garden. From her home garden each summer, Vida brought delectable vegetables and fruits to share with the patients. Dedicated, she spoke with patients twice daily about their food preferences and prepared their desired requests.
Vida felt her greatest honor was her membership in the American Society for Hospital Food Service Administrators. She was also coordinator for continuing education for Blaine County hospitals and a member of the Idaho Hospital Association Council for Continuing Education. Vida organized Meals on Wheels in the Magic Valley.
Strong relationships developed between Vida and the nurses, which continued into her retirement with lunches and parties. Her home was always a gathering place, with wonderful meals for family and friends.
After her retirement from Moritz Community Hospital at age 75, Vida worked in her daughter Lynn's art gallery, where she had been serving her world-famous appetizers for 20 years. Because Vida was an outgoing, friendly and cheerful person, she became the gallery's top sales associate.
Vida was an avid animal lover, always having cats, dogs and birds in her household, as well as numerous bird feeders in her beautiful yard. Donations to an animal shelter or Humane Society of your choice would be appreciated.
