Obituary of Yvonne Patricia Dubois
Yvonne Patricia Dubois, of Red Deer, AB, passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre surrounded by loved ones on January 21, 2025, at the age of 58 years.
She was born in Red Deer, AB, at the Red Deer Regional Hospital on December 15, 1966, to Jacobus Elisha Van Loo and Maaike Van Loo (née Heukels).
Yvonne was raised in Red Deer and attended Red Deer Christian School, Camille J. Lerouge, and Red Deer College, where she earned a certificate to become an educational aide. Although she never worked in that capacity professionally, she generously volunteered at Red Deer Christian School and served on its school board.
From a young age, Yvonne was a member of First Christian Reformed Church. She participated in Sunday School, Gems, Young Adults, Catechism, and eventually made her Profession of Faith there. Yvonne was married in the church, had her three children baptized there, and it is there her Celebration of Life will be held.
Yvonne was a diligent and hard worker. Her first job was at Orange Julius, followed by roles at Bootlegger in Bower Mall and The Brick Warehouse. She also successfully ran her own small businesses: Gramma’s Attic and The Gifted Ladies.
She later became a mortgage broker, working at several brokerages before partnering with a close friend to work independently. Through this friend, Yvonne also began working at the Red Deer Shooting Centre as a bookkeeper, administrator, and beloved "range mom" for about 10 years. Even when she could no longer physically be at the range, she continued working from home as long as she was able.
Yvonne’s most cherished roles were as a wife, mother, and homemaker- roles in which she excelled because they reflected what she loved most: her husband, her children, and her home. A very, very close second was her love for her extended family and many friends. Yvonne is still cherished by many. Her joyful spirit and kindness delighted those around her.
Yvonne had a wide range of hobbies and interests. She had a green thumb, much like her father and eldest brother, and delighted in planning her flower garden each spring. A tradition of visiting greenhouses with her children for Mother’s Day brought her joy and inspiration for her vibrant home garden. In recent years, she even began growing vegetables.
Her creativity extended to crafting. She was skilled at creating but would often say her capacity was limited to a glue gun (which was funny, but untrue). Yvonne made unique greeting cards using stamps and embellishments. Yvonne also enjoyed needlepoint, crocheting, and created beautiful quilts- despite not particularly enjoying the sewing part! All her hobbies were enjoyed alongside quality time with family and friends, which was likely her favourite part of each activity.
Yvonne is survived by her loving husband, Shane Dubois, and their children, Zachary Dubois and Elyse Dubois (fiancé Aric Dunn); father-in-law's Dee Hodgkinson (Sherry Bouvette), Elmer (Philipa) Dubois; sisters-in-law Joanne Van Loo (née Lindquist) Shelly Baker (née) Dubois, Tracey Dubois, Peggy Van Loo (née Todd); brothers-in-law Eric (Tracy) Dubois (née) Gartner, Rodi Dubois; nephews Jake Martin, Robert Nowlan, Chance Pinyon, Dallas, Travis Cogbill, Mitch Cogbill; nieces Andrea (Ken) Ames (née) Van Loo, Hilary Martin, Jolee Dubois; as well as many cousins and second cousins in Canada, the Netherlands, and England. She will be deeply missed by her family and many friends.
Yvonne was predeceased by her parents, Maaike “Mop” Van Loo (née Heukels) and Jacobus “Jake” Van Loo; her son, Nate Dubois; brothers Adriaan “Art” Van Loo and Jack Van Loo; sisters Wilma Martin (née Van Loo) and Nicki Van Loo; niece Gabrielle Lindstrom (née Van Loo); mother-in-law Loretta Hodgkinson (née Bourne); grandmother-in-law Betty Bourne (née Woolway); and many beloved aunts and uncles from Canada and the Netherlands.
A memorial service will be held at the First Christian Reformed Church, 16 - McVicar St, Red Deer AB on Friday, May 23, 2025 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local hospice.
DEATH IS NOTHING AT ALL
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
https://youtu.be/hZtWg1KDvDU
Condolences to Yvonne’s family may be emailed to meaningful@telus.net. Please indicate “YVONNE DUBOIS” in the subject line.
Arrangements in care of
Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service
A locally owned cremation and funeral provider
serving Red Deer and all of Central Alberta
587-876-4944