Speach by Suzanne & Philippe Barois on 26 January 2013

Yetta was a free spirited, independent woman who gave generously of her self, her time & her talent to people and causes around the world. She had a world vision and understanding, but was, at the same time, a family oriented person and a close friend to many.
She was a master at weaving community and when she met George, she was welcomed into a clan over 50 people strong: siblings, children, grandchildren and their spouses. The numbers did not daunt her; she was exhilarated to meet so many others who shared her love for George.
We were happy for George, enriched as he was by Yetta's presence in his life, her dowry of interesting and loving friends, and her adventurous spirit and vacation planning skills. We remember fondly her vivid descriptions of their trips, especially the anecdotes of places and of encounters with people.
Our family was blessed to be recipients of Yetta’s love; she opened her arms to all of us, and was genuinely concerned for our welfare. She applauded our diversity and nurtured relationships where she could. Her tolerant and accepting nature inclined her to welcome each and all to hearth and home, fully respectful of individual choices.
The blending of families is a mysterious alchemy and Yetta stirred the pot and made it bubble. She added new and different perspectives for seeing the world and relating to people. Her colorful, creative and cultured lifestyle was observed by our family with appreciation and wonder, and served to influence and inspire many of us in positive ways.
Yetta was sincerely interested in us - our own lives and our activities. Most importantly, she chose to see the best in each one of us. She was particularly interested in establishing meaningful and deeper contact with the younger ones, keeping abreast of their plans, aspirations and opinions. And here I’d like to quote a passage from an email message we received yesterday from our 21-year-old daughter, Madeleine:
“One thing that always amazed me about Yetta was her ability to focus on you in a conversation, genuinely interested in what you had to say, making you feel truly valued and worthy of great things. For an insecure young girl like me, still trying to find her path in life, this kind of attention and encouragement from someone I so admired was invaluable.”
Fare thee well Yetta. We shall miss you dearly and remember you fondly, forever grateful for the love and care you bestowed upon us all. Written by Suzanne Barois (Neé Susan Anne Strasdine) Presented by Suzanne & Philippe Barois on 26 January 2013 at the Unitarian Church