Yvette Valerie de Souza's Obituary
Yvette Valerie de Souza (nee Pinto do Rosario) passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 98. Yvette was born in Belgaum, India, to Jose Luis and Angela Pinto do Rosario. A devoted sister to her siblings, Faust, Norman, Erlic, Lionel, Louis, and Marie Louise, she grew up in a large and loving Goan Catholic family. Yvette was a devout Catholic all her life. She continued to attend daily mass via the internet even after she lost her sight. Her family gives special thanks to Father Jose Santos for the spiritual comfort that he offered to Yvette near the end of her life.
In her youth, Yvette excelled as well on the hockey field as she did in academia. She traveled extensively and was a lifelong learner, devouring books on a broad range of topics from philosophy to history. She passed on her love of learning to her students when she served as principal of Sophia Polytechnic College in Mumbai, India.
Yvette expressed her artistic side in the form of embroidery, knitting, crocheting, and flower arrangements. She was an excellent cook and a gracious host, famous for her dinner parties. She had a vivacious personality, good looks, and an impeccable style. She was faultlessly dressed for every occasion, well into her late 90s.
Yvette was an extremely charming and sociable person. Within moments of meeting someone, she would have a new friend. She stayed in touch with her family and friends, visiting them when she was able, and talking to them on the phone when she was unable to travel. She was a great listener and always gave sage advice.
Yvette adored and was adored by her family. Her great love left her too soon – her husband, Frank de Souza, passed away at the age of 49. Yvette lived to be double his age. She leaves behind her four beloved children, Sandra (Assis) Soares, Cora (Ronnie) Martin, Penelope (Anand) Badve, and Mark de Souza; her five grandchildren, Karen (Tony Orden) Soares, David Martin, Andrew (Jennifer) Martin, Nicholas Soares, and Sarah Martin (Peter Gannon); and her three great-grandchildren, Lila and Micah Soares-Orden, and Connor Gannon. She also leaves behind her sister, Marie Louise (Noel) Barretto, her sister-in-law Deidre Pinto, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives, and innumerable friends both old and new.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Williams-Thomas Westarea 823 N.W. 143rd Street Newberry, FL. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m.
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