Her death notice was placed in the Newcastle Herald:
YOUNGER YVONNE CAMILLAS Late of Charlestown Formerly of Sydney Aged 91 years Dearly loved wife of DAVID (dec'd). Former loving wife of JOHN BORDER (dec'd). Much loved mother and mother-in-law of JILL and DES O'CONNOR, CLARE and ANDREW HALL, MARGARET and DAVID PERROTT. Loving Nana to her eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren and loved sister, sister-in-law and aunt of the QUINANE, BORDER and YOUNGER families. Relatives and friends of YVONNE are warmly invited to attend her funeral to be held at St Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, Milson Street Charlestown this WEDNESDAY morning 26th April 2017, Funeral Mass commencing at 10am. A private cremation will follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Alzheimers Australia at fightdementia.org.au Forever In Our Hearts
Two things to post. One is that a pile of photos were put together that i'll post up here.
But first, my aunt Jill delivered the eulogy at the funeral, which I've summarized in the 3rd person here:
Yvonne Camillas Quinane was born on 20th January, 1926 at Watson's Bay. Her parents were Patrick Joseph and Irene Therese.
The Quinane family came from Tipperary in Ireland and Mum's grandfather was born in Ballarat just prior to the Eureka Stockade in 1854. The family's tent was damaged by soldiers searching for the rebel miners. Yvonne's father was an original Gallipoli Anzac who was physically (with the loss of one eye) and emotionally scarred by the War.
Yvonne was the fourth of five children, Joan, Fred & Phil preceding her, and Kevin following. They were brought up in a Catholic home, full of Labor politics. Her father was Doc Evatt's Campaign Director.
The family moved into a new brick home at Sans Souci when Mum was 6 months old. They had wonderful neighbours - on Empire Day, they had great cracker nights, the Carnigan boys would guard the bonfire so it would not be lit until the big night arrived.
Yvonne attended St. Finbar's Primary School, Sans Souci and then St. Patrick's School, Kogarah. In Yvonne's school days the Depression occurred and she went to school one day and because a child did not have any shoes, she gave hers away, and came home bare-footed. She, with all her family spent many blissful hours at the beach and she was a very powerful swimmer.
When she finished her education, she went to work at David Jones in 1941 in the dress-making department. She enjoyed her work and stayed there until the war was over. Yvonne met John (known as Jack) Border at a dance at Watson's Bay in 1946, they loved to go to dances especially at the Trocadero. They married in 1947 and had 2 daughters, Jill and Clare. Sadly they had a very short time together and Dad passed away in March, 1953 from acute leukemia. The next few years were a difficult time, Yvonne was only 27 with 2 little girls to raise, Jill was 4 and Clare was just 5 months old. Her family at that time were a great support.
They lived at Ramsgate and Yvonne worked at the Post Office there and in 1956 they moved to Earlwood and Yvonne went to work at the Maritime Services Board as a statistical clerk. She overloaded a boat and was sent to see a Mr. David Younger, and as he always said from that day on he was always fixing her problems. They married in 1957, and a daughter Margaret was born in 1959. Yvonne gave up work and worked at the school tuck shop and played tennis. Dad gained a promotion and we moved to Newcastle in 1966, living in Kahiba. Yvonne and David joined Kahiba Bowling Club and made many good friends - Yvonne really enjoyed her bowls. She served as Treasurer from 1974-1977 and Secretary for 2 years and was also a Selector.
In 1985, David had a massive heart attack and at 59 Yvonne was widowed again. She was always very strong and made the best of everything.
Yvonne learned to play bridge and played cards with friends on a Saturday afternoon for over 20 years. She joined Probus and was Honorary President of the War Widow's Guild in Newcastle from 1996 to 2000. Yvonne and her daughter Jill marched proudly on Anzac Day down Hunter Street to Civic Park for years, representing her two husbands, her father and uncles - all war veterans.
Yvonne travelled extensively overseas many times, seeing so many countries - some many times. Daughters Clare and Jill accompanied her on a QE2 cruise. Yvonne always loved a joke, and a bet on the horses, and playing Lotto and Keno.
In March 2006, Yvonne was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, and they family thanks everyone who were on that journey with Yvonne. Thank you to the staff at Amaroo Nursing Home for their devotion and dedication for making Yvonne's time so comfortable with both gentleness and kindness.
Yvonne was a loving grand-mother, having 8 children and 13 great-grand-children. Yvonne will live in our hearts forever.
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