Obituary of SUZANNE MARIE ST. YVES

Suzanne Marie St. Yves

Child of God
Daughter of Lucien (predeceased) and Viviane
Sister of Dan (Ruth), Ramona, and Corrinne 
Aunt to Jennifer
Godmother to Frank, Rebecca, Kess, and Christa
Niece, cousin, friend, colleague to many

Spiritual Director

World traveller and adventurer

Writer, Blogger, Photographer

(Passed peacefully Monday June 25^th)
 

I have loved this precious life I was given.  Many intriguing opportunities allowed for a full and amazing life. This world of ours and its inhabitants are stunning. I am fortunate for the amount of travel I have had which blessed me with an open-mind, increased my desire for social justice, and created and maintained friendships that were meaningful. Work led me to understand the least of these (Central Park Lodge, St. Amant Centre) and primed me for my career within the Deaf community as an ASL-English interpreter (IIRS and DCM) and as a consultant with Manitoba Education. My faith life was my guiding Light though, becoming involved first at Holy Cross and then St. Ignatius. Assuming leadership roles in both these parishes and with TEC, I grew in my love for the Trinity and developed a great desire to serve. Belonging to a Jesuit parish I became versed in Ignatian spirituality as a spiritual director and an Ignatian Lay Volunteer. 

Service was important to me and over the years I committed myself to various boards and organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Manitoba Cultural Society of the Deaf, Hospice and Palliative Care Manitoba, the Manitoba Association of Visual Language Interpreters and its national equivalent, AVLIC, the St. Ignatius prison and bereavement ministries, and so much more. I am grateful for all these opportunities which taught me that in giving we receive. 

I returned to school at the age of 40 and completed a degree in conflict resolution studies. I loved learning as it stretched me out of my comfort zone and made me a well-rounded person. The year I graduated I received the gold medal. This helped to erase many years of feeling I was not smart enough. That lesson was as important as anything else that I learned.

I have always been distracted by beauty and picking up a camera helped me to appreciate that even more. I marvel at what an amazing world we live in. Words were fascinating to me so it is no wonder that I became an avid reader from a young age and a writer. 

I would like to thank the amazing medical team that has worked with me for these past three years. 
Thank you to the medical teams that have carried me through these three years—Dr. Ruth Simkin, Dr. Andrew McKay, Dr. Kulpinski, Dr. Greg Chernish, Dr. Marianne Krahn,  Dr. Bruce Kowaluk, Dr. Sprange,-- the wonderful nurses in the palliative care home visit programs, and the Home Care staff.

To my Circle of Support – my gratitude is beyond words.  To all those who provided for my every need and beyond, thank you.

While this life has been utterly breathtaking, I cannot wait to slip through the thin veil to all that awaits me on the other side. Peace!

Prayer vigil (celebrating Suzanne’s life) will be on Tuesday July 3^rd at 7:00 pm at St. Ignatius Church, 255 Stafford. Funeral mass (celebrating Suzanne’s life in Christ) will be on Wednesday July 4th at 11:00 a.m. at the same parish. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 501 Plinquet Road, off Archibald. Wear purple!

Besides flowers, donations can be made to Canadian Jesuits and the Suzanne St. Yves Amani (Peace) Prize. (If you wish to make a donation to the award, please visit uwinnipegfoundation.ca. On the donation page which appears, write “Amani Peace Award” in the field marked other.)