Yvonne A. Samuels

Yvonne Alberta Samuels, born on March 18, 1944 to Solomon and Ivy Samuels, left this world to be with her Lord on Friday, December 1, 2017. Yvonne was born and raised in Rio Bueno, Trelawny, Jamacia. She attended Rio Bueno Primary School as well as St. Anns Bay High School. She worked for years in Kingston and Ocho Rios, Jamaica and took pride in caring and providing for her children as single mother. Yvonne wanted to offer a better life for her children which led to a desire to migrate to the United States. In 1986, with the help of her sister Norma Maxwell, her desire became a reality. She migrated and worked diligently until she could bring her children to the U.S. with her. In 1991, Yvonne began working at the University of Maryland, where she remained employed until her retirement in July 2017. She was regarded as a valued employee during her 26-year career and was awarded several recognitions. Yvonne also assisted private families with housekeeping over the years, and was a trusted and loved employee by those families. In spite of a rigorous work schedule, she found time, almost every morning, to work in her flower garden. People would often stop to comment and take pictures of her beautiful garden as they drove by the house. Her garden, the best looking one on the block, was always so full and luscious that her daughter Karen would often take flowers to the job for her co-workers. Yvonne accepted the Lord as her savior at a very early age and attended the Rio Bueno Anglican Church in Jamaica. In the U.S, she reaffirmed her faith and became a member of Crossroads Church of the Nazarene. Yvonne lived a life which displayed the fruit of the spirit and gave evidence to her connection with Christ. In the early morning of December 1st, she again affirmed her faith and shared with her family that she was "going home" and that she "gave her heart to the Lord:. Yvonne was known for her exceptional cooking skills and was often requested to prepare cabbage and fried dumplings, ackee and salt fish, soup, and her famous curry chicken. She faithfully sent breakfast to Karen's job every Sunday, as she delighted in cooking and feeding everyone. Family was important to Yvonne and she was affectionately called Aunt Van, NaNa and Na'Na'. She enjoyed hosting large gatherings with Karen. Just one week before her transition, she welcomed almost forty family members and friends to her home for a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. Kind and soft-spoken, Yvonne truly showed love and care, not only for her family, but even to those she met along the way. Along with showing unconditional love for her children, she also helped to raise others. For several years she raised Dale and Gail Wiggins her home with her children. After the passing of her beloved sister, Hermaine, Aunt Van stepped into the role of a mother figure for her nieces and nephews. Preceding Yvonne in death was her brother, Curtis Samuels and sister, Hermaine Samuels. Yvonne leaves to cherish her memory: six children, Karen Monteith of Maryland, Neville (Andrea) Harvey of South Carolina, Koyd (Lovett) Wiggins of Maryland, Dean Wiggins of Maryland, Nordi (Leroy)Rose of Florida and Adrienne Winter of Maryland; sixteen grandchildren, Dunston, Dozane, Kamar, Kayla, Jasmine, Jonah, Jeremiah, Venice, Vendre, Janae, Joy, Veniaya, Jaya, Gavin, Tristan and Alex; one great-granddaughter, Kaden; three siblings, Thelma Samuels, Joe Samuels and Norma Maxwell; special caregivers who assisted her children during her illness, Diana, Imani, Brinetta and Cadeen. She also leaves to mourn a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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Yvonne A. Samuels

March 18, 1944 - December 1, 2017