Yvette Farnet Gonzales

Yvette was born on December 27, 1928, and grew up on Lepage Street and Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was educated at St. Joseph Academy and St. Mary’s Dominican College in New Orleans and graduated with a degree in Social Work. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Family was her greatest delight and joy, and she considered it her most valued blessing. She loved serving her family by cooking, sewing, homemaking and gardening. She was an enthusiastic game-player and a loyal and spirited Saints and LSU fan. She was a devout Catholic and had a servant’s heart for volunteerism, with many hours given to church, civic and prayer activities, including St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Daughters, Altar Society and Adoration Chapel.

Yvette made friends wherever she lived - Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas. A cherished location was the Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, where she spent many happy summers and her retirement years before Hurricane Katrina.

Yvette was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Henry Edward Gonzales, who together created a legacy of love with their large and treasured family. Yvette is survived by her five devoted children: Marcelle Rayner (Edward), Jeanne Brandes (Kenneth), Lucille Amato (John), Yvette Brandes (Edward), and Henry Gonzales Jr. She is also survived by her eleven beloved grandchildren: Edward Rayner (Julie), Matthew Brandes (Lori), Ellen Bradley (Trey), Laura Edmonds (Tommy), Alan Amato (Laura), John H. Amato (Jaclyn), Sarah Brandes (John McIlwee), Emily Weece (Reggie), Benjamin Brandes (Kate), Michael Gonzales and Rebecca Gonzales.

Yvette dearly loved her twenty-three great-grandchildren: Rachael Maehren (Daniel), Belle Rayner, Julia Dickens (LeDarius), Jules Rayner (Abby), Jack and William Brandes, Henry, Charlotte and Emily Bradley, Kate and Maddie Edmonds, Alan and Evan Amato, Carter, Landon and Hayden Amato, Nora and James McIlwee, Ella, Ruby and Simon Weece, Zoe and Sadie Brandes, and her three great-great-grandchildren, Amelia, TJ and Gracie Rayner.

Yvette’s parents were the late Marcel Joseph Farnet Sr. and Dorothy Stewart Farnet. She is survived by her brother, Marcel Joseph Farnet Jr. and sister-in-law, Aimee Dubus Farnet. She is preceded in death by her three siblings: Dorothy Farnet Stakelum, Corinne Farnet Villarrubia and Samuel Stewart Farnet. Yvette found great joy in the company of her husband’s family, Walter and Mary Lou Gonzales, and Jeanne and Bob Moore, and of her many beloved nieces and nephews in both the Farnet and Gonzales families.

Yvette’s children want to recognize with deep gratitude the years of loving care and devotion our sister, Marcelle, extended to our mother. Mom’s longevity and quality of life were greatly enhanced by the loving kindness of our sister. Thanks also to Devotion Hospice of Houston, Texas, for making it possible for Mom to stay comfortably in her home for her end-of-life journey.

To celebrate Yvette’s blessed life, family and friends are invited to gather at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124 on Friday, December 6, 2024. A memorial visitation will be held at 9:30 am. A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 11:00 am, with interment at Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome:

The Dorothy S. Farnet Sewing Center, c/o Hope Renewed Intl, PO Box 262, New Buffalo, MI 49117 or online at hoperenewed.org.

Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or online at alz.org