Yvonne Joan LaCasse Gross died Feb. 15, 2018 at the age of 89 in Port Jefferson, New York.

Yvonne was born May 23, 1928 in Albany, New York to her parents, Lucy and Gideon LaCasse. Yvonne enjoyed literature and the arts and had numerous degrees in education from Sienna, Hunter and Queen’s colleges. Yvonne married Robert Gross Sr. on July 11, 1953. They lived in Pelham Manor, Manhattan, Setauket, New York and summered in Ocean Point, Maine. She worked with a prominent Manhattan architect and designed her Setauket house to her exacting specifications incorporating many unique design features.

Yvonne was a dedicated teacher for over 20 years in Mt Vernon, New York school system. In retirement Yvonne enjoyed traveling the world from the Galapagos Islands to Russia. She also was very active in the Round Table at Stony Brook University. When she wasn’t traveling the world, she was in NYC with a full culture calendar comprised of museums, Theater, Bobbie Short at the Carlisle and her beloved New York Philharmonic subscriptions.

Yvonne is survived by her daughters, Liz Gross of New York, New York and Nancy Brown of Boston, Massachusetts; her son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Mary-Anne Gross of Port Jefferson, New York and beloved grandchildren Lily (16) and Robi (10). She was predeceased by her husband, Robert. 

Her children and friends will miss her but will never forget her stories and quirky oddities. Yvonne/Mom/Grandma were her names and she lived life to the fullest with unwavering dedication and love for her children, grandchildren and husband. She will be remembered for her brilliant mind, quick wit and amazing love of life and all it has to offer.

Yvonne will be interned in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of two causes that were of paramount importance to her: Planned Parenthood and Amnesty International.