Yvonne S. Dameda
February 5, 1941 ~ March 11, 2020
Resided in:
Portland, ME
South Portland-Yvonne Suzanne DaMeda, 79, died on March 11, 2020, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, following a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. She was born in Villeneuve-Le-Roi, France, to Albert DaMeda and Denise (Languedoc) DaMeda on February 5 ,1941 and came to the United States as a young bride when she married Gerald Haynes.
She earned a BA degree from Southern New Hampshire University and became an early childhood educator. After her children were grown, she moved to Mansfield, MA, and later to Uxbridge, MA, and was a teacher of French at Franklin Charter School. Following her retirement, she moved to Portland, ME where she relished her role of mother, grandmother, gardener and chef and enjoyed sitting on her terrace soaking in the beauty of Casco Bay. She also took great pride in decorating her condo and had a wonderful eye for color, balance and shape.
Yvonne was fluent in English and French and initiated a Cercle Francais in her condo building. She also composed poetry in both languages and was a published poet. During her later years, she studied Italian, the first language of her father.
Yvonne is survived by her son, Albert Haynes of Portland, Maine; her daughter, Erica Haynes of Lebanon Connecticut; her two sisters, Jeannette Brege of Jacksonville, Florida and Marcelle DaMeda of Montreal, Quebec; her three grandchildren, Andre Decarmine of Lebanon Connecticut, G Haynes and Catharine Haynes of Portland, Maine. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
A Memorial Mass will be held on August 15, 2020 at 10:00am at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland, Maine. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 1024 Broadway, South Portland, ME. To view Yvonne's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Maine Parkinson Society, 146 Parkway S, Brewer, Maine 04412
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Madame DeMada was my French teacher for many years during my childhood. We always shared a very special bond, and I am so grateful to have known her, and been taught by her. My mother and I visited Madame a little over a year ago, and she shared her paintings and poetry with us. Even though my French was rusty, we delighted in reading her poems aloud, and it was so lovely to see the joy that it brought her. My sincere condolences to her family- she was a wonderful and kind woman. – Martha H. Demarest (BFCCS student, 1997-2004)
– martha demarest
I met Yvonne in 1997 at The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School in Franklin, MA. She taught my daughter, Martha, French for 7 years. In the first moments of our meeting , she turned on the stairs as Martha and I passed and, looking at me with a serious and knowing expression , said “She’s a very old soul”. And I had known that, but Yvonne too recognized it. We had an instant spiritual triad . She was a deep, beautiful and loving soul who became a part of our souls. We will carry the gifts she gave us for our lifetimes. May God bless and keep her in His garden , as we celebrate her gifts on earth. Cynthia PH Davis ( nee Haward,Demarest)
– Cynthia
Yvonne was a lovely woman with a beautiful heart. She was also a lot of fun and I’m blessed to have known her. Quatre bisous
– Ruth