Victoria Toppano-Coers

Victoria, 91, passed away at Brookdale Senior Living with her family around her. She was born in Walla Walla to Salvatore and Victoria Grano Gallo, the eighth of nine children.

She attended Jefferson Grade School and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1942. In February of 1942, she married Joe Toppano at St. Francis Catholic Church. While her husband served in the Pacific Theatre during WWII, she worked at the McCaw Hospital as a secretary. After the war, she farmed with her husband for a number of years and then went to work at Whitman College in the financial development department and retired after 35 years.

In 1997, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Toppano. In 1998, she married their longtime friend, Edward Coers, he preceded her in death in 2007. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, St. Anne Altar Society, Italian Heritage Assn., and the Walla Walla Country Club.

She is survived by her son, Victor (Laska) Toppano of Walla Walla; her daughter, Susan Orgill of Clinton, Utah; her grandchildren, Joe Toppano, and Angie (Marc) Maiuri of Walla Walla, Neil Orgill Jr. of Sunset, Utah, Michelle (Shane) Fleming of Clinton, Utah; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Theresa Guarascio of Walla Walla; numerous nieces and nephews; and good friend, Bob Stanfill of Walla Walla; step children, Ralph (Kathy) Coers, and Christine (Johnston) Mitchell; and numerous step-grandchildren and great-children. She was preceded in death by two brothers; five sisters; son-in-law, Neil Orgill Sr.; step daughter, Petra Adams.

Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Community Hospice or charity of choice thru the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Viewing and visitation will be Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015, from 2 p.m. until after the 7 p.m. Rosary. Funeral Mass will be Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church.

A big thank you to Brookdale staff and Walla Walla Community Hospice for their gentle and loving care.