Yvonne Anne (Lachapelle) Souliere

Yvonne Anne (Lachapelle) Souliere passed away in the company of her children on the evening of Sept 18.  A sudden illness released her from the bonds of Alzheimer's disease, which in 2019 disrupted her enjoyable retirement.

Born August 24, 1942, to Edmond Ernest and Eileen Rose Lachapelle, in Worcester, MA, Yvonne grew up amongst her four lively siblings. She graduated from Merrimack College, then Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  She was a Woodrow Wilson Award Scholar.  During her time as a student, she continued to play acoustic guitar, and participated in dramatic productions as well as stridently advocating for civil and women's rights during a pivotal decade for the movement.  She earned her 2nd Master’s Degree in 1992 at UNE, where her Maine historic research work is held in their Maine Women Writers Collection.

While still in D.C., she met and married fellow teacher Jean Souliere.  After starting their family, they moved to the cleaner air of Maine, where they remained, later divorcing.

Retiring from her teaching and advising positions at the University of Southern Maine in 2012, Yvonne enjoyed traveling widely, learning new languages, teaching English (ESOL) to students here and away, doing crosswords, reading, gardening and walking.

Yvonne, in spite of the curse of Alzheimer's, had a sharp mind and a sense of humor that created new challenges for the marvelous memory care staff at Fallbrook Woods.  We would also like to thank the phenomenally compassionate folks at Mercy Hospital and at Gosnell House, where she spent her last days.  They also appreciated Mom’s sense of humor, which surprised them repeatedly. 

She is survived by her brother John Lachapelle and his wife Claudia, her sister Judith and her husband Michael Zalansky, Yvonne’s former husband Jean, and their children: Michelle (and husband Tristan Gallagher), Mathieu (and wife Erika), Thomas (and wife Laura), and Joseph, as well as her grandchildren Dylan, Alexander, Henri, Cameron and Patrick.  She was predeceased by her two older sisters, twins Claire Anderson(with her husband Doug) and Susanne Lachapelle. Her family, many friends, and students will miss her tremendously.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite Alzheimer's organization, or to Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service (littlesistersfamily.org), which provides health care to those in need in East Harlem, NYC. 

You can make a donation via this link: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E163980&id=142 

You can also mail donations by check, payable to:

LSA Family Health Service 

333 East 115th Street

New York, NY 10029

Phone: 646.672.5200

Her sister Susanne was a lifelong nurse who belonged to this hard-working order. 

Per Yvonne’s wishes, there are no public memorial services planned, but we hope you all celebrate her life in a way you think she would get a kick out of.