Our beloved sister and Auntie Antoinette “Annie” La Vina Ballesta. 1956 – 2026
Antoinette “Annie” Ballesta passed away in Hollister on May 2, 2026 at the age of 69 following a sudden illness.
She was born on July 14, 1956 in Watsonville, California to Pete Ballesta and Esther Davenport. Annie is survived by her four sisters Lori Ballesta and her husband Brook, Carmen McCartney and her husband David, Cheryl Romo and her husband Gilbert and Laura Hayes and her husband Kenneth; and two brothers Jerry Ballesta and Reid Davenport and his wife Tammy. Annie graduated from Watsonville High School in 1974. She worked many years at Richard Shaw Cannery in Watsonville, and held a bookkeeping job in Gilroy. She then became a bartender at Whiskey Creek and Johnny’s Bar & Grill in Hollister where she made life long friends who she cherished. She also worked often at the Police Academy as a proctor in Seaside, Ca.
Annie is also survived by her nephews Everett Yniguez and his wife Vanessa, Andre Yniguez and his wife Brook of Hollister, Ca; Christian Ford of Loganville, Ga; John and Mark Ballesta of Watsonville, Ca, her nieces Gina Ford of Loganville, Ga; Kyla Gilson and her husband Danny of Santa Cruz, Ca, Mattea Romo of Aromas, Ca; Leanna Ballesta Stellman of Scotts Valley, Ca. Great nieces Alikah Yniguez of Salinas, Ca; Jaylen and Reagan Yniguez of Hollister, Ca and great nephews Isaiah and Peyton Yniguez of Hollister, Ca.
The mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at San Juan Bautista Mission, 406 2nd St., San Juan Bautista, CA, on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Immediately following is her Celebration of Life at the San Juan Bautista VFW, 58 Monterey St, San Juan Bautista, CA. She will be laid to rest at Pajaro Valley Cemetery in Watsonville. CA, on Friday, June 11, 2026 at 11a.m.