Obituary of Yvette Marie Glynn

…. And, when the work of grief is done,
The wound of loss will heal
And you will have learned
To wean your eyes
From that gap in the air
And be able to enter the hearth
In your soul where your loved one
Has awaited your return
All the time.

(excerpt from “For Grief” by John O’Donohue)

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Yvette Marie Glynn (nee Couture).

Yvette was born on March 4, 1958 in Chatham, Ontario to Gerry and Godelieve Couture. She was the middle of five children and is survived by her siblings Denise, Rene, Georgette and John, their spouses Mike, Janet and Linda and many nieces and nephews.

Yvette grew up in the small French community of Pain Court. Her academic gifts took her to university where she earned a BA in history and in 1984 graduated with her law degree from Western University. While practising law briefly in London, she was introduced by her aunt and uncle to a young sales representative who called at their furniture store in Chatham. That young man was Michael Glynn.

Michael and Yvette were married on May 6, 1988 and were each other’s half for the next thirty-five years. Yvette left the practise of law and joined Michael in his furniture sales business. Yvette often travelled with Michael on the road as they built their life together. Later Yvette shared her love of books through her work as a sales representative in the educational publishing industry. When Yvette was forced to leave the publishing industry due to health, she took up a number of other interests. She was a longtime member of Beta Sigma Phi and through that organization developed a close circle of friends who would share her interest in quilting (Meribeth, Trudy, Marlene, Cathy, Marg, Trish, Laurie and Gail). She served on the Executive of the Thames Valley Quilting Guild for many years and through its outreach program, donated approximately 300 quilts to charity. Many of those around her received the fruits of her labours to recognise weddings, birthdays and births.

Mike and Yvette shared their lives generously with their families which included Michael’s family; his parents Larry and Josephine, sisters Joanne and Catherine, their spouses Gerad and Steve and many nieces and nephews. They also formed family relationships with her girlfriends Margie and Mary and was a mother-friend to their children Katie, Samantha, Matthew, Ben and Rebecca. For those lucky enough to call her wife or sister or friend, she was a sounding board, a recommender of books and a source of quilts, jam and pizzelle cookies. But most of all, she would hold your soul in the palm of her hand and you would be safe.

Although she struggled with her health for many years, she presented a positive approach and in October, Mike and Yvette moved to a new condominium in London to start the next chapter. Unfortunately Yvette’s health took an unexpected turn and in the early morning hours of November 6^th, Yvette made the brave decision to end medical treatment. Surrounded by Michael, her siblings, Margie and Mary, she took her step unafraid, towards God.

A private celebration of Yvette’s life will be held at a later date.