Yvonne Marjorie Weaver passed peacefully away at home on Wednesday 22 January 2025. She leaves behind husband Roy, daughters Kathryn and Caroline and grandchildren Max and Roxie.
Yvonne lived a remarkable life. At age 16, she left her home in Wales and set off to forge a career that took her to the United Nations HQ in Geneva and missions all over the world. With her UN earnings, she paid the deposit on the family home in Brightlingsea and then took herself off to university to study for a BA in Art History.
For the remainder of her career she dedicated her life to teaching adults with special needs – everything from music to drama, cooking to life skills. She continued working well into her 70s until she became ill.
Yvonne was an active member of the local community, taking part in various choirs and drama societies, attending Sunday services, throwing regular dinner parties and getting involved in all sorts of local charity initiatives. She was also an adventurer, exploring rural China, the jungles of Costa Rica, road trips across the States and Europe and the inaugural Orient Express trip to Berlin. She also braved Glastonbury festival a few times.
Despite being not quite five feet tall, Yvonne filled the room with her presence, warmth and kindness. She made everyone feel welcome and seen. When you were with Yvonne, you had her full attention and you came away feeling loved, beautiful, unique and interesting. Yvonne’s legacy of trying to make the world a better, kinder, more loving place lives on in all of us.
To quote Maya Angelou, “…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.
Memories, stories, photos and videos of Yvonne can be shared on her tribute site – yvonneweaver.muchloved.com – and, in lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations are considered for either Cancer Research UK or St. Helena Hospice.
Yvonne’s memorial service – with bright coloured clothes or accessories requested – will be held at St. James’s Church, Brightlingsea at 2pm on Friday, 28th February 2025, followed by a wake at Brightlingsea Sailing Club.
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