Yvonne L. Gilles

Yvonne Lucille Gilles, age 89, passed from this world peacefully at home early in the morning of Wednesday, December 18, 2024, with her daughters by her side (along with Theresa from Quality Comfort Care). She was born on September 6, 1935. 

 She worked at the Trane Company from 1954-1959. In 1963 she began working for the Gas Company in La Crescent, where she worked until her retirement in 1995. She volunteered at Mayo in La Crosse from 2000 (at age 65) until 2003 and enjoyed it so much that she decided to work at Mayo as a receptionist there until 2012, at age 77.

 She battled cancer and won the fight by February 2023, but not without debilitating side effects. Mayo Hospice provided in-home care since September 2023, with Quality Comfort Care complementing them in August 2024 by providing their services so she could have her wish of staying in her own home.

 We want to thank the Mayo Hospice team and Quality Comfort Care, especially Marcia and Theresa, who were our angels in their dedication to keeping mom happy and comfortable in her own home. We can’t thank them and their teams enough, and we don’t know what we would have done without them.

 She is preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim) Gilles, her mother, Irene; father, George; 2 brothers, LaVerne and George, Jr.; and a sister, Arlyne. She is survived by her daughters Tammy (Cliff) Salmon of Farmington, MN and Lynda Jo (Greg) Nordstrom of Sequim, WA; grandchildren Clint (Ashley) McKinley of Tucson, AZ and Sheena (Chris) Tushaus of Dodge Center, MN; 2 great-grandchildren, Tessa and Kendra, nieces Michelle (Richard) Rosado of Chicago, IL and Roberta (Tyler) McNeal of Olathe, KS.

 A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at the Church of the Crucifixion in La Crescent, MN with Father John L. Evans II officiating. Visitation will be from 10 AM until the time of service. Per mom’s request, a celebration of her life will be held at the Sports Hub in La Crescent immediately following the mass. A private burial will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, at a later date.

 Memorials may be given to Crucifixion Catholic Church, La Crescent, or to the National Shrine of St. Jude, 205 West Monroe, Chicago, ILL 60606.