Genevieve, (Debbie), Yotter (age 96)

[Pompeii]

Genevieve, (Debbie), Yotter passed to a new life May 1, 2023 at age 96. Born to  Sydney and Charity Lockwood on January 11, 1927, mother had a long and interesting life. Mother stated many times since dad passed that she was ready to go. She died peacefully while in a coma from a stroke. Priscilla sang mom on her way with her favorite hymns. Priscilla does not sing well, but neither did Mother, so it seemed fitting. It was fortunate Deb had not used her operatic voice as she would have sung the entire floor to the other side. 

Mom married Dad not long after he returned from the Pacific theater during WW2. They quickly fulfilled the American family ideal of one daughter and son, but only 11 months after Chris, Jr. was born, Mother had several nightmares that she was pregnant with triplets. She, at age 24, told Dad of her dreams. The dreams were prophetic and 7 months later, very premature, identical triplet girls were born. At age 25, Mother was suddenly overwhelmed with 5 children under the age of five, 4 of whom were in diapers. Mom's mother, Charity, did not live close-by, but hired her sister-in-law, Carmelo, to help Mother. This may have saved Mother's life. In the last several years of mom's life, she often said she was so grateful to have had help from several family members. Dad changed jobs after the triplets' birth so as not to travel so much. The new job moved the family first to Baltimore and then Winter Park, Florida. 

Though  born in Pennsylvania, Mom spent the happiest part of her life in Florida, which she considered her heart state. Mom and Dad lived in Central Florida for 35 years until he retired from Lockheed-Martin and she from her career as a site monitor at a senior citizen meals program. She loved her job and was almost always on time for it, a Herculean feat for her. Her experience working with seniors was a real aid to her when she became one herself, as she was an "expert" on every quirk of hers that she attributed to advancing age. Unfortunately, by the time she was past senior and into elderly stage, she was also past taking any advice she had given her seniors. Mother was fortunate to have had a career that she really loved. 

When Mom and Dad moved back to Pennsylvania, Mom had bits of Florida sand under her finger nails, but she figured it was Dad's turn to choose a geographical location. She and dad stayed active in the Episcopal and Lutheran churches in Dubois, Pennsylvania. They had numerous friends and relatives with whom they maintained an active social life. Mother returned to Florida following Dad's death. Though grieving Dad, it was a joy for her to get back to Florida.
 

Before working for the school board as a site manager, Mother spent the majority of her time being overwhelmed with having five children under the age of five. As the children became older,  she became heavily involved in politics and was a very active member of the Episcopal church. Mother worked on trying to acquire a more robust sense of humor and demonstrated her bit of success once when her liberal-democrat daughter asked her what she wanted for her birthday.  Mother replied,  "For you to register Republican." Her daughter looked at her in disbelief as mother started laughing and said,  "See, I am getting a sense of humor. "
Mother enjoyed her 96 years of life; some might conjecture that her longevity was due in part to the excess exercise she had when young, running after us.


As the daughter of a coal miner, mother was always astounded that she had traveled as widely as she had and had participated in so many interesting activities and events. Mother often brought up how far she had come from her beginnings. Not in an egotistical way, but as a expression of gratitude and wonder.

Mother is preceded in death by just about everyone. But to name a few, her husband, Chris Yotter Senior, her son, Chris Yotter, Jr., a sister, Patricia Lockwood, both  brother-in-laws, her parents, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. As said before, pretty much everyone.

She is survived by her sister, Jo Morelli, four daughters, Deborah Oriel, (John), Patricia Yotter, Pauline Carroll, and Priscilla Yotter. Grandchildren, Tammy, Matthew, Tracy, Diane, Donald and Michelle. And great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, regular and great. Mother was often overwhelmed as a parent of 5 very strong-willed children and a husband who suffered from PTSD (though that problem was not talked about then), for many years at the start of their 66-year marriage, but she continued to have faith in God and belief in a life in the hereafter. She persevered!

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 from 12 PM - 1 PM at the Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc. 

A funeral service will follow at 1 PM from the funeral home with her daughter Priscilla Yotter officiating.

Burial will take place in Morningside Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross, 109 North Brady Street, Suite 2, DuBois, PA 15801.

Online condolences can be sent to http://www.baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence