Yolande Windsor, loving and independent mother, grandmother, sister, mother-in-law and friend passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 18, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois. She is survived by daughters Victoria Mervar and Marie Corr,  sons-in-law Dennis Mervar and Steve Corr, grandchildren Hannah and Jon Jon Corr; brother and sister- in-law, Francis and Jeanette Ting and brother George Ting and his family, Vanessa and Eric Anderson.

Yolande was born in the French section of Shanghai, China, in August, 1934.  She fell in love with the United States through  movies (in English) and books and emulated Katherine Hepburn's characteristics - smart, independent, and sassy and well dressed!   Yolande and her family left China to escape communism.  They moved to Hong Kong, where she attended high school, and then to Taiwan.  Yolande's life dream came true when she immigrated to the United States in 1955 as a college student at Holy Names College in Spokane, Washington.  Between marriage and cross country moves to Boston, Yolande earned a B.A. degree in Home Economics followed by a M.S. degree in Nutrition at Framingham State University in Massachusetts, while raising two young daughters. She was the first in her family to obtain an advanced degree, that speaks to her strong beliefs in women's education and independence (long before it was vogue), which have since passed down to her daughters, niece and granddaughter.

Yolande moved to Parma, Ohio, where she lived for over 40 years, and practiced as a Registered Dietician in hospitals, nursing homes and rehab facilities, focusing on the developmentally disabled clientele.  In the late 70s, Yolande opened her own company and sold her privately labeled "Sir Bobby's Crumpets" to gourmet grocers and restaurants across the country including: Zaybar's (Manhattan), Zingerman's (Ann Arbor), and her hometown favorite, Heinen's Fine Foods. Yolande focused the last 15 years of her professional career on diabetes care and passed rigorous tests to become a Certified Diabetic Educator at Southwest General Hospital.  Through her rewarding professional career, Yolande counseled many patients and friends by providing clever, patient-focused dietary advice that aligned with her motto of:  "It's not what you eat …. it's the portion."  A story on her career was even published in the Cleveland Magazine!

Yolande was an incredibly seasoned world traveler and with her trusty Samsonite (that still works), visited all of Europe, the British Isles (her favorite), Africa, China, Nepal, India, Cuba, Cambodia, Egypt, Israel and the Seven Wonders of the world.  She also fit in many fun trips with her grandchildren to Boston, Chicago, D.C., and San Diego. She loved taking pictures, movies, restaurants (always mindful of portion size), all cultures, books, the NY Broadway and NY Met Opera.  Locally, she was a long-standing season subscriber to the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and of course, the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  In 2016, Yolande moved to Chicago to be close to Victoria and Dennis, who, with a crew of amazing and angelic caregivers, provided unconditional love, nurturing support, care, back rubs, and genuine laughter, to the very end.

A Funeral Mass was held at St. Clement Church in Chicago on December 18, 2018, and attended by the family, caregivers and friends.

A Rite of Committal with Final Commendation/Memorial Service was held on January 19, 2019 and attended by the family and friends at:

Green Hills Memorial Park

27501 S. Western Ave.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, September 27, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. at:

St. Columbkille Church

6740 Broadview Rd.

Parma, Ohio 44134

The Mervar family will receive friends to share memories of Yolande on Sunday, September 29, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at:

Residence Inn

5101 West Creek Rd.

Independence, Ohio 44131

RSVP's Appreciated for either event. No Obligation. Please Email: ywindsormemorial@gmail.com.

Donations in memory of Yolande Windsor can be sent to:

- American Association of Diabetes Educators, Chicago, IL 60606 (Donate online https://www.diabeteseducator.org/about-aade/aade-foundation/make-a-contribution )

- National Shrine of Francis Xavier Cabrini, 2520 North Lakeview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614 (Donate online https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/TheMissionarySistersofTheSacr/donate.html )

- Saint Columbkille Parish, 6740 Broadview Road, Parma, Ohio 44134-4898 (Donate online https://membership.faithdirect.net/givenow/OH668 )

For further information please call 312-421-0936.