Tona Dodd Bronder
1926-2017
Tona Dodd Bronder, longtime resident of the San Fernando Valley, CA, died Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at the age of 90, of natural causes. Tona was born November 30, 1926 in Fort Worth, TX, to Benjamin F Dodd and Joyce Gregory Dodd. Her birth name was Helen, but she decided she wanted a more original name, and changed her name to Tona.
As a child she studied acting, violin, and tap dancing. She left Texas at the age of 16, leaving for New York City to become an actress. AfWHU IRXU \HDUV VKH EULHÀ\ UHWXUQHG WR Texas; then moved to Los Angeles, CA to further pursue a career in acting. She acted on the stage in local community theater, later taking onstage roles in Hollywood, along with some television and movie roles. She was a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.
She raised three children with Joseph Hoisington, then married an actor, William Bronder, on June 12, 1964. They were married 51 years, until his death in 2015.
Along with acting, Tona had many interests and hobbies. She traveled to Asia and India, which instilled in her an interest in Indian, Chinese and Japanese cooking. She took Japanese language classes and Bonsai classes. Her greatest interest was her pets and over the years she had several dogs and cats, along with a turtle and birds.
Tona is survived by her son Gary (Pam) Bergantino; daughters: Rhonda Pimentel and Crystal (Ernest) Govea; stepdaughters: Colleen Bronder, Joan (John) Kownacki, Jean (Mike) Andrews and Tonia Zinninger; grandchildren: Richard (Danielle) Hernandez, Gary (Danielle) Hernandez, Laura Bergantino, Melissa Govea (Matthew) Von-Velasco, Jennifer Govea; numerous great-grandchildren; brother James W (Virginia) Dodd; sister Carolyn Casterline; brotherin-law Charles Sr. (Suzanne); and sister-in-law, Patricia (Frank). She was preceded in death by her husband William F Bronder and sonin-law Gary Pimentel.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00am Friday, July 21, 2017 at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, 23287 Sierra Hwy, Newhall, CA
,Q OLHX RI ÀRZHUV GRQDWLRQV may be sent to the donor’s choice of charity for pets. The Signal, July 14, 2017 Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.signalscv.com