Yvonne Marie Dorais

Yvonne was born in Joliet, Illinois on November 29, 1928 and graduated from Munising High School in 1946. She attended Marquette’s St. Luke’s School of Nursing, and graduated in 1949. She married John B. Dorais of Marquette on 26 November 1949. They had four children, Cheryl – the Physical Education Chair at Michigan Technological University who passed away in 2005 and survived by John, her husband; John B. III (Jay) – who resides with his family in Reno, Nevada; William (Bill) (COL, USA Ret) who works for the Department of Defense and resides in England with wife Diane and son Will; and Amy who resides in DePere, Wisconsin with husband Derek. John and Yvonne had 10 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren. Husband John was an auditor and Safety Manager for the LS&I Railroad and passed away on January 20, 2012.

While raising four children, Yvonne worked as an orthopedic nurse supervisor and emergency room nurse at Marquette General Hospital. After retirement, she set up and taught Health Occupations classes at Marquette Senior High School. She also volunteered in the hospital gift shop, and was an active member of the nurse auxiliary, serving as chairperson for two years.

Yvonne and John were active in many civic and charitable causes. Yvonne served on the Lakeview Arena Board for five years, was President of the Marquette Figure Skating Club for two years, and served on the board of the Marquette Golf and Country Club as membership chairperson. John and Yvonne were named Bishop Baraga Man and Woman of the Year in 2002.

The Knights of Columbus honored them as the State of Michigan Family of the Year in 2003. She served on the Board of the Marquette Catholic Credit Union, and was State of Michigan volunteer of the year in 2004.

Active in the church, Yvonne served as coordinator of the Perpetual Adoration Society at St. Peter’s and President of the Altar Society. Both Yvonne and John were inducted into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 1996. She also served the Diocese of Marquette as a volunteer nurse at Camp Plagens’ youth camp in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin, for over 20 years.

Yvonne was also active in the NMU Alumni Association, the US Olympic Education Center, the Nursing Association, the Marquette Beatification and Restoration Committee, Bishop Baraga Association, and Special Olympics.

During retirement she enjoyed golf, gardening, traveling, and playing in the senior cribbage league. Most of all, John and Yvonne enjoyed their family, especially visits from the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Sunday, April 7th from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home in Marquette and again on Monday, April 8th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Bishop’s Room of St. Peter Cathedral. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 8th at 11 a.m. in the cathedral with the Rev. Msgr. Michael Steber and Most Rev. James H. Garland, Bishop emeritus of Marquette concelebrating. Deacon Scott Jamieson will assist at the altar. A luncheon will immediately follow in the parish hall. Burial will take place in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as well as members of Bishop Baraga the Snowshoe Priest Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus will act as honor guard.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials are preferred to Father Marquette Academy, 500 S. Fourth St., Marquette, MI 49855or Peter White Public Library, 271 N. Front St., Marquette, MI 49855 in Yvonne’s memory.

Her obituary can also be viewed at canalefuneral.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.