Yvonne Winget Lonni's Obituary
Yvonne Winget Lonni
March 16, 1935 - February 13, 2026
Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend passed peacefully on February 13, 2026 after a heroic battle with cancer as she approached her 91st birthday.
Few have lived such a colorful life or were blessed with so many remarkable gifts as Yvonne. The eldest of three sisters, Yvonne was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada on March 16, 1935 to father Thomas Winget, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and mother Lottie Wixom. She was loved and nurtured along with her sisters Beverley and Jeanette. She was always top of her school classes with a nationally recognized high IQ. Yvonne graduated from Calgary General Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse and then moved to El Centro, California to work. There she met the love of her life, the Italian Louis J. Lonni (aka “Luigi”), the hospital’s administrator. They were married on June 16, 1962 in Rexburg, Idaho and later sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake City Utah LDS Temple. Yvonne and Lou lived in Salt Lake City while she attended and graduated from the University of Utah School of Medicine as one of only three female physicians in the class of 1967. Their daughter Virginia was born during her challenging medical-school coursework. They moved to Southern California for Yvonne’s pathology residency at UCLA where they welcomed their son Thomas during the exhaustive demands of residency. After completing her first year of residency, Yvonne and Lou took a sabbatical and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime by moving their young family to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) for three years where Lou worked as a hospital administrator and Yvonne as a physician serving amongst the very poorest. The ravages of a civil war in that country forced their emergent evacuation out of East Pakistan under gunfire only allowing them to take a few possessions; this little refugee family of love travelled the world for many months visiting India, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Italy, Paris, and London en route back to UCLA long before world travel was generally accessible. Immediately after becoming a board-certified pathologist, Yvonne was hired as Chief of Pathology for Kaiser Permanente in Bellflower, California where she worked for 22 years. She and Lou raised their family in Lakewood, California.
Yvonne had a gift for loving her family and devoted her entire energy to them. She cared for Lou in his advanced illness until he passed away in 2000 in Louisville, Colorado. Yvonne then served as Area Medical Advisor for 2 years in Houston, Texas for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served with distinction overseeing the medical needs of missionaries in five US states. Her later years were spent in South Jordan, Utah where she welcomed her children, grandchildren, and friends for visits, watched soccer games in the field behind her home, and was beloved by her neighbors who lovingly watched over her during her senior years.
A world traveler, having once flown on the Concorde with Lou, an avid reader, and gifted on the piano, her profound curiosity inspired her to great erudition in learning. She loved poetry as well as watching American western movies and MLB baseball. She had an unusual ability to make friends wherever she went. She gave generously to individuals and many philanthropic organizations. She loved her native Canada and was also thrilled to become a citizen of the United States which country and ideals she cherished, often with tears.
Yvonne was a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ and an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Nobody was more devoted to their family than was Yvonne. Nobody loved her husband more than Yvonne loved Lou. They are now reunited.
Yvonne was preceded in death by her sister Beverley, and is survived by her sister Jeanette, son Thomas Lonni (Shelly), daughter Virginia Call (David), seven grandchildren who adore her, 3 great-grandchildren, and many Canadian family members who were very dear to her heart. All will miss her warmth, love, and strength.
A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 5PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10227 S. 4000 W, South Jordan Utah, 84009. Yvonne will subsequently be buried in Louisville, Colorado next to her husband Lou.
In lieu of flowers, Yvonne has requested donations be sent to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Missionary Fund.
What’s your fondest memory of Yvonne?
What’s a lesson you learned from Yvonne?
Share a story where Yvonne's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Yvonne you’ll never forget.
How did Yvonne make you smile?