Obituary of Yvonne Kierstead

Mrs. Yvonne Luciana Alfonsina Kierstead was born in Herentals, Belgium. She was the daughter of the late Frans and Delphina (Van Loy) Beirens.

During the war, her mother worked on the Allie Base in the USO café and on many occasions she brought Yvonne along to help. It was there, in 1945, that Yvonne met Private Everett Kierstead and in December 1946, at the age of 18 she and Everett were wed.

On coming to Canada they moved to Coles Island where Everett was from and they remained there for the next 15 years.

In 1961, the couple built a new home at 30 Hillside Crescent in Sussex. There, they raised their two daughters and in 1977 Everett passed away. Yvonne continued to live there and meticulously maintained the grounds. She planted trees, sculpted gardens and maintained the lawn in such a way that she would rarely entrust it to anyone else. In June of 2008, Yvonne decided to move and together with her daughter Nancy they moved a couple of times until she found   herself back in the neighborhood she had lived in for over 47 years.

 Yvonne was a woman of strong moral fiber and lived her life with strength and   conviction. She was both frugal and assertive. She didn't believe in wasting money and always weighed her needs against her wants and she had very few wants. Yvonne was never afraid to work and while raising her children she made draperies for the trailers produced by Glendale Homes and for a while worked in the Tea Room at Barbour Foods.  Yvonne was a very talented painter; she loved gardening, quilting, planting trees and bingo.

Yvonne Luciana Alfonsina is survived by her husband  Everett L. Kierstead, her daughters: Leah LeBouthillier of Sussex Corner and Nancy Cummings of Sussex; her brother, André Beirens and his wife Rosa of Belgium; three grandchildren: Marc LeBouthillier and Brian and Kayla Cummings; her nieces in Belgium: Diane, Karin, Yvonne and Gerda; her brother-in-law, Frans Van Peer of Belgium as well as several nieces and nephews in New Brunswick.

Mrs. Yvonne Luciana Alfonsina Kierstead of Sussex, passed away at the Sussex Health Center on October 05, 2009 at the age of 81.

Along with her parents, Yvonne is predeceased by her sister, Maria Van Peer.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176) where visitation was held on Tuesday from 6-8pm .  

A service celebrating Yvonne's life was held from Wallace Community Chapel on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 11:00 am.