Obituary for Yvonne E. Coddett (Griffith)
Yvonne Edith Coddett nee Griffith was born in Newtown, Georgetown, Guyana, on October 7, 1934, to Lilian Griffith nee Van Eeden and Joseph Griffith. Yvonne passed away on December 13, 2020, at her home in Yonkers, NY. Yvonne attended St. Winifred’s Primary School and Brickdam Secondary School. After leaving Brickdam Secondary School, Yvonne worked as a junior teacher where she taught Latin and French, after which she became a secretary at the Ministry of Drainage and Irrigation. Yvonne married the love of her life, Jonas Mortimer Fitzgerald Coddett (Morty), in 1961. After the birth of their first child, Kim, Yvonne and Morty emigrated to England. Two more daughters, Yasmin, and Debra were born in England. While Morty pursued his law degree, Yvonne worked for Crown Agents. A fourth daughter, Andrea Shaun, was born in Guyana; however, the family continued to reside in England. Eventually, the family emigrated to Canada to be closer to extended family. Yvonne then worked as an English/French bilingual secretary in the Canadian Civil Service. Yvonne & Morty also opened Nu Skin Boutique, which was one of the first Black-owned hair, skin, and fashion businesses in Ottawa. After living a short while in Ottawa, Yvonne and Morty answered a patriotic call to service, joining expatriates returning to Guyana.
Upon their return to Guyana, Yvonne worked as an entrepreneur and proprietor of Yvonne’s Boutique. During this time, a fifth child, Jomo, was born. Yvonne operated Yvonne’s Boutique for many years, then herself and Morty became owners of a custom-design furniture shop and transitioned out of the boutique business. Yvonne emigrated to the United States in 1987, where she worked as a childcare provider and in the home health-care industry. She retired in 2002, after which she volunteered in the Yonkers Public Schools.
Yvonne will be remembered as an avid traveler, reader, news enthusiast, and entertainment guru. Her love of life was infectious, and all who knew her loved her historical recounts and dramatic interpretation of current events. Yvonne was devoted to her family, friends, and community and was a resident storyteller wherever she lived.
Yvonne's legacy will be continued by her children, Kim, Yasmin, Debra, Andrea Shaun, Jomo and her stepson Neville. She is survived by her siblings Cecil Griffith, Terrence Von-Eeden, Godfrey Griffith, and Jewel Griffith; her grandchildren Duane, Gina, Khaadim, Evan, Renee, Alexandra, Celine, and Christian; great-grandchildren Tyson and Selah; her many nieces and nephews; and numerous relatives and friends. Yvonne was preceded in death by her husband, Morty, sister, Cecilia and brothers Rudolph and Neville.
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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Yvonne Coddett entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Coddett family during their time of bereavement.
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Services & Burial are PRIVATE, by explicit invitation only. Please still leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, & SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing a guest book.
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As a lasting tribute, you may also choose to plant a tree, and/or send flowers, and/or a contribution may be made in her name/memory/honor to a charity of your choice. If you're sending flowers, they may be delivered on Friday Dec. 18th, 2020 by/before 11:00am to Lee's Funeral Home. The Family Thanks You!
Upon their return to Guyana, Yvonne worked as an entrepreneur and proprietor of Yvonne’s Boutique. During this time, a fifth child, Jomo, was born. Yvonne operated Yvonne’s Boutique for many years, then herself and Morty became owners of a custom-design furniture shop and transitioned out of the boutique business. Yvonne emigrated to the United States in 1987, where she worked as a childcare provider and in the home health-care industry. She retired in 2002, after which she volunteered in the Yonkers Public Schools.
Yvonne will be remembered as an avid traveler, reader, news enthusiast, and entertainment guru. Her love of life was infectious, and all who knew her loved her historical recounts and dramatic interpretation of current events. Yvonne was devoted to her family, friends, and community and was a resident storyteller wherever she lived.
Yvonne's legacy will be continued by her children, Kim, Yasmin, Debra, Andrea Shaun, Jomo and her stepson Neville. She is survived by her siblings Cecil Griffith, Terrence Von-Eeden, Godfrey Griffith, and Jewel Griffith; her grandchildren Duane, Gina, Khaadim, Evan, Renee, Alexandra, Celine, and Christian; great-grandchildren Tyson and Selah; her many nieces and nephews; and numerous relatives and friends. Yvonne was preceded in death by her husband, Morty, sister, Cecilia and brothers Rudolph and Neville.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Yvonne Coddett entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Coddett family during their time of bereavement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Services & Burial are PRIVATE, by explicit invitation only. Please still leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, & SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing a guest book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a lasting tribute, you may also choose to plant a tree, and/or send flowers, and/or a contribution may be made in her name/memory/honor to a charity of your choice. If you're sending flowers, they may be delivered on Friday Dec. 18th, 2020 by/before 11:00am to Lee's Funeral Home. The Family Thanks You!