It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Adèle Lucia Yukes aged 102 in Edmonton.
Adèle was predeceased by her husband (of nearly 60 years), Wilfred, and her daughters, Rita (Guy Surette) and Jacqueline (Hugh Naldrett, deceased). She is mourned by her children, Virginia, Douglas (Patricia), Joan (Robert Udell) and Neil, her sister Rollande (Paul Dubrule), her brothers Elphège Boulet and Paul Boulet, and her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Adèle was a member of St. Agnes and St. Anthony’s parishes for 70 years and was a lifelong member of the CWL. To supplement her Normal School training, she earned her Bachelor of Education after a challenging 8 years of night school and summer school, all while employed by the Edmonton Separate School Division, teaching at St. Agnes School and St. Margaret’s School. She also taught at St. Peter, Mount Carmel and St. Clement. Adèle taught a variety of subjects and eventually taught French as a second language at St. Mary’s Highschool until she took on a position with the school board, helping to shape the French curriculum. She enjoyed teaching much more than this position.
Upon her retirement, Adèle learned to quilt and created dozens of beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren. In her 91st year, she took on a volunteer position of teaching immigrant women to make quilts. As always, her lesson plans were prepared with care. A few years later, she decided to give up bowling, because of the difficulty in getting to the bowling alley not her inability to bowl. She was always curious and loved reading,
because it was a way to learn new things, and a way to escape reality for a little while. She was very grateful for the e-reader that allowed her to increase the font size and continue to enjoy books, until a month prior to her passing, even with her failing eyesight.
Adèle had a wonderful sense of humour and a most amazing memory. Her ability to talk about geography, history, language usage or political shenanigans never ceased to
astonish us. Even in her final days, and under physical duress, she had enough humour to joke around with the medical staff.
We will all miss her kindness, her sternness, her sharp wit, her sense of fairness, her
curiosity about the activities of her descendants and of course, her fierce intelligence. But most of all, we will miss her love.
To the family of Mrs Yukes. I was one of your mother’s high school french students at St. Mary’s. She was a great teacher. I am sorry I did not hear of your loss earlier. However my thoughts and prayers are with you now. May you continue to cherish the good memories some of which you have shared in the obituary.
I was so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. She was an amazing woman and I am so happy that I have wonderful memories of her over the years…..from the many times I slept over, to our infamous car journey to Kenora, to spending time with her and Mr. Yukes in Australia and the times we would meet up when she visited the Island.
She was certainly proud of her family and they certainly showed their love in return. My condolences??
Aunt Adele leaves me smiling as I think of her wit and teasing manner. She was an amazing, intelligent woman that I was proud to have as my godmother. My sincere condolences to her children and grandchildren.