YVONNE VALERIE LaDURON
October 14,1942-May 27, 2007

Associate Yvonne Valerie LaDuron was born on October 14, 1942, to Mary Myrtle and Louis  LaDuron .  She was one of 4 children, having 3 brothers.  Yvonne’s youngest brother, Rodney,  passed away, but she is survived by her brothers Louis Dwayne and Dallas. Significantly, she was raised in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, but on becoming acquainted with Veronica (Bonnie) Potocki in 1990, she began attending St. Sylvester’s Church in Warren, Michigan.  In 1992 Yvonne made the decision to convert to Catholicism with Bonnie’s support and guidance.  Then Bonnie and Yvonne decided to pool their resources and live together.  In this time period following her baptism, Yvonne began to accompany Bonnie, who is a former member of the Congregation, to Adrian to visit the Sisters.  It was here that Yvonne expressed her regret that she had not converted to Catholicism earlier so that she might have had the opportunity to be in vowed religious life. Here then was her call to be connected and in relationship with the Adrian Dominican Sisters.  In the next few years, she answered that call through interest in the Associate Program.

It took a few years, but Yvonne became an Associate in November 1997.  She had a year or two of participation with a mission group and then a few years of social participation with the Sisters, but all the while practicing the charism in her life. Now it was her turn to support and encourage Bonnie who had helped her to find new life in her Christian commitment.  She encouraged Bonnie to become an Associate.  In October 1999, she had the joy of seeing Bonnie also become an Associate.  In 2002, Yvonne was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  She was registered with Hospice, but as ill as she became there was still more life for her.  She improved from being seriously ill and experienced 5 more years of life.

As a young adult, Yvonne spent a tour of duty in the navy during the Vietnam War.
She spent most  years of her working life as a bookkeeper for various companies and she retired around the year 2000.  She was active in her parish as a Eucharistic Minister, but her favorite ministry was being a greeter at Saturday evening liturgies. She loved being a Catholic, and looked forward to liturgy every week.  An outstanding fact is that Yvonne entered the Catholic Church on Pentecost and God took her home on Pentecost.  We will remember her fondly.  May she rest in peace.