Yvonne Mary Cecile Maurice

We, Yvonne's family, honour and celebrate the life of a wife, mother, grandma, sister, auntie, cousin, and friend — Yvonne — a woman whose strength was unbreakable and who fought until the very end.

Cancer may have taken the life of a wife, mother, grandma, sister, auntie, cousin, and friend, but it did not take her spirit.

She burned her legs when she was eight years old and was teased because of it. Not long after, she was taken out of school to babysit for teachers and was left alone on farms to take care of herself. Life was not easy for her. She became a mother at a young age, and at first, she wasn’t even sure what love was supposed to look like because no one had truly shown her.

But she did not give up. She kept pushing forward. She kept learning and most of all, she kept loving the best way she knew how, and her love grew stronger with time.

She married our dad, Robert Maurice, and their love made her even stronger. She stood by him no matter what because she believed marriage does not break. Her faith carried her through everything.

Our mom was the kind of woman who could do it all. She could cut meat, smoke fish, cook buns and cinnamon rolls and take care of her home without ever complaining. Even if she was in the middle of a good show or resting, she would get up and do what needed to be done. She was strong with her hands but even stronger with her heart.

She was a cook, a counselor, a teacher, an elder at school and a mentor. She would go to people’s homes to make sure kids were going to school. I would say she would “kick your butt,” even though that part wasn’t officially in her job description, but she made sure you were afraid to miss school, if she showed up! She believed in discipline. She believed in guidance. She believed in showing up. She believed in being kind from her own heart, without ever expecting anything in return. That’s why so many people loved her - she truly cared.

One thing about our mom, she always answered the phone when we called. She listened first. She didn’t interrupt. She let you say everything you needed to say and then she would give her advice. She made you feel heard. She made you feel safe. She made you feel like things were going to be okay.

Even in her final days, her faith never left her. Her last words were simple but powerful:

“Trust in the Lord.”

“Never stop praying.”

Faith. Strength. Resilience. Love.

That is who she was.

Yvonne, you turned pain into purpose. You turned struggle into strength. You turned your life into a blessing for others.

We will hear you in our prayers. We will think of you every time we pick up the phone and wish we could call you. We will carry your strength inside of us.

We’ll miss the little things the most.

Sometimes, out of nowhere I would just say, “My mother.”

And she would answer, “Yes?”

And I would say, “I love you.”

She would say, “I love you too and You know that.”

So, if you’re reading this and she touched your life in any way, hear her voice saying it today: “I love you too and You know that.”

Rest peacefully, our beloved wife, mother, grandma, sister, auntie, cousin, and friend. Your love is still here, and it always will be.

Cherished Memories Funeral Services is honoured to have been entrusted with Yvonne's care and services.