Yvonne Maud Cahill

Yvonne Maud Cahill, 90, of The Villages, FL, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 26, with her family and her beloved cat, Lovey, by her side. She was ready for “the party to begin” and to join the love of her life, her husband of 54 years, John “Jack” Joseph Cahill.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Melissa Cahill (John Timmins) of New Jersey and Cynthia Demetrovich (Rick) of Florida; four grandchildren, Gabrielle “GG” Yvonne deFiebre (Luiz Filipe Rodrigues Moreira), John “Jack” Cahill Dess (Ashley Plantz), Zachary “Bill” William Dess, and Sophie Madeline Dess; her beloved brothers Robert “Bob” Carey (Libby Calloway) and Bruce Carey (Gerarda), as well as many nieces and nephews whom she adored.
She is also survived by Lovey the Cat, her mischievous companion through this journey. Her friends, many of whom she knew for decades, meant the world to Yvonne. She was known for hosting fabulous parties and making friends with ease wherever she went. In her final days, she often shared how much she loved and valued the friends who enriched her life. She was beyond thrilled to have found new friends at The Villages and Watercrest Senior Living. They gave her great strength and support as she faced her illness with grace and even humor. In her final weeks, Yvonne also had a miracle of a caregiver in Chel Parisi, a skilled nurse and remarkable human who became her “adopted daughter.” There are simply not enough words to express the support and love of those surrounding Yvonne.

Yvonne was born in Brooklyn, NY, on July 21, 1935, to Maud (née Moseley) and John Robert Carey, who first met while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on their way to work in the City. She was a star drum majorette with dazzling twirling skills and absolutely adored her brothers as they grew up together across the state of New York. A dedicated and creative homemaker, she made volunteer work a priority, serving in numerous roles throughout her life, including as a legal advocate for victims of domestic violence, President of the Board of the Junior Woman’s Club in New Jersey, and board member of The Gulf Coast Museum of the Arts. A secret “creative”, she won a prize for her poem for the US Poetry Society and was honored at the White House.

Yvonne met her future husband, Jack, the funniest person she ever knew, at a New Year's Eve party. Yvonne was walking around the party with a Magic 8-Ball and asked Jack if he wanted to ask it a question. Jack asked, "Will I pass physics?" Yvonne told him that the 8-Ball said "yes." In true Jack humor, he replied, "Great! But I don't take physics." There was so much humor and love between them. Jack’s work allowed them to travel throughout the world, something Yvonne cherished.

Jack and Yvonne married in 1957 and had two little girls, many cats, and an Irish Setter in Randolph, NJ. They moved to Clearwater, FL, in 1990 from Mendham, NJ, and Battery Park City, NY. They were delighted in 1988 when they welcomed their first grandchild, GG, followed by Jack, Bill, and Sophie. GG joined them on many adventures around the world, countless holidays, and created a lifetime of memories together.

Yvonne will be remembered for her warmth, humor, and the joy she found in family, friends, and pets. Her laughter and love will remain in the hearts of all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association via this donation page (srna.ngo/yvonnemcahill) or by check to the following address:

The Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association

PO Box 826962

Philadelphia, PA 19182-6962

EIN: 91-1780467

SRNA is a 501(c)(3)