Yvonne Ann Bissenas' Obituary
Yvonne Ann Bissenas
Yvonne was born in PawPaw, Michigan to Arleigh and Illa Harrett on September 6, 1928. She joined the angels on March 22, 2009 surrounded by her husband of 60 years, William, and family. Her presence, wisdom, and kindness were unwavering and unmatched. Her family was her pride and joy. She always had an ear to listen with compassion and without judgment. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking and sewing and taught her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to do these things. Every summer we would gather with her to can pickles, jams and jellies, among other things. At Christmas and Thanksgiving we gathered with her to make pies, cookies, fudge, her fruitcake that people DID eat, and of course her butter rolls that only she could make perfectly. At Easter there was always her famous Easter cake, topped with yummy Easter candies. Those who joined our family, through marriage or friendship, soon learned that she always included them as family and they would never go away hungry. Yvonne was always ready for an infamous "girls night" or a fair game of cribbage. Her life was an adventure. She worked at the Pentagon and met her future husband, William Bissenas, at a USO dance in Washington, D.C. They were married on March 1, 1949. They left Washington, D.C. and traveled with the U.S. Army to various posts around the world, and she saw her husband off to war. By the time they were stationed at Fort Lewis, in 1959, they had 6 children. They settled in Tacoma and added 4 more children to their family. Yvonne retired from Lively Market in the early 1990's. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arleigh and Illa Harrett, brothers Bill and Arleigh Jr., sister Barbara Dubbins, grandsons Christopher Ray, Andrew Morton, and great-grandson Dallas Weaver. Those who continue to share their fondest memories of her are her husband William Bissenas, daughter Teresa Bissenas Greenhill, and her family Hannah Williams (Matthew, Anna) and Christian, son Thaddius Bissenas, daughter Thalia Davis (Michael) and her family David Bissenas (Samantha, Ethan), Jeffery, Michael (Stacia, Lily ), Nicholas (Danyell, Gavin) Illa (Michael, Chloe), daughter Theodora Ray and her family Jessica Flatt (Rob), Anastasia , son James Bessinas (Rhonda, Ernestina, Karen, Alex, Sarah, Xavier), son James (Militza, James III, Jonathan, and Grace) daughter Jazzmyn Yehle (Stefan, Tatiana, Michael, Kohen, Rayne, and Toushyn) daughter Thomasina Rice (Tony) Angelina Colvin, (Thea) Jennifer Craven (Justin, Tristan and Jacob) Terry Coltrain (Angela, Nichole, Aurora, and Terry Jr) Patrick, daughter Thetis Bissenas (Wes) Curtis Clawson (Cyndi, Hailey), Sarah Wood (Taylor Clawson, Jaymison, Spencer and Eric Jr), Nathan Kirkpatrick, son William Jr. (Gina, Zach Mason, Ashley) daughter Thea Morton (Lincoln, (Melanie, Lucas) Marie, Lincoln, Mary), daughter Thais Bissenas (Kevin, Kevin Gonzales, Kenneth Gonzales, their dad Kevin Gonzales, Sr., Kyle Walton (Sarah, Ava), Kory and Kevin Walton and other extended family members and friends. The following services will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA. In remembrance of our beloved wife, mom and grandma: Viewing is March 27, 2009 from 12pm - 9 pm with Trisagion, March 27, 2009 at 5 pm. Funeral services will be held in the Mountain View Valley Chapel March 28, 2009 at 2 pm. A reception at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church community hall, 15th & Yakima, will follow the interment at Mountain View. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund or your favorite charity, in remembrance of Yvonne A. Bissenas. Our family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the compassionate care givers at Madigan Army Medical Center, Lincare and Franciscan Hospice.
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