Allegra Jolley

Allegra (Antozzeski) Jolley, of Billings, passed away peacefully at Riverstone Hospice House on December 10, 2017. Allegra was born April 24, 1925, in Clearbrook, MN, the daughter of John and Amanda Norby. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 57 years, Raymond Antozzeski. They had two children. She finished her joyful life with her current husband Don Jolly. Don and Allegra were married May 21, 2014. He remained faithfully by her side throughout her long hospice stay. Allegra had an adventurous spirit. As a new graduate from Abbott Nursing School in Minneapolis MN, and to the astonishment of her parents, she and her friend, Eileen, decided to take a train to Seattle and board a ferry to Anchorage Alaska to find work. While in Alaska she met her first husband. In 1958, Ray and Allegra moved to Montana from Anchorage Alaska and leased Eddy's Corner, where Ray ran the kitchen and Allegra waited tables. They moved to Stanford in 1961 and purchased the By-Way Café and Motel. While in Stanford, they were blessed with two children, Janice and Robert. They moved to Billings, Montana in 1985. Allegra worked for the professional Nursing Pool for 10 years and upon retirement volunteered for Big Sky Hospice. Allegra was active in church, sang in the choir and volunteered for Camp on the Boulder as an assistant camp nurse while her children were growing up. Allegra proclaimed often that the joy of the Lord was her strength. Not only did joy belong to her but she passed it on to everyone she knew and met, whether she was nursing, waiting tables, standing in line at the grocery store or saying hi to a stranger. Her joy was contagious. When asked what she wanted people to know after she left us she said, “The love of God casts out fear. You gotta know that before you can get ahold of anything else. When the fear goes, loving comes easy after that.” Allegra is survived by her husband, Don Jolly; her children, Jan Seacord of Cornville, AZ, and Bob Antozzeski of Billings, MT; 2 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; one brother Quinton Norby of Green Bay, WI; her nieces, Theodora Boolin, Rachel Clemens, Naomi Christensen Kirstein and her nephew, Tim Christensen. She is remembered fondly by many nieces and nephews. She is preceded by her parents, John and Amanda Norby, and her sisters Pauline Christensen, Gebora Henning, and Jane Bosman. Cremation has taken place. At a later date, ashes will be placed at the Columbus Cemetery, MT. A Service of Celebration will be held at 2 pm on December 14 at the Evangelical United Methodist Church, 345 Broadwater Avenue, Billings MT. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given the Riverstone Hospice Home, 2230 Mission Way, Billings, MT 59102; or the Evangelical United Methodist Church, 345 Broadwater Avenue, Billings, MT59101. Memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com. The family extends their thanks to the many friends who drove long distances, brought meals, sent cards and visited her during her hospice stay. We are particularly grateful for our dear family friend Fredricka Gilje. She regularly oversaw Allegra's care, opened her home for family to stay during visits, and often sent regular updates to relatives.