Yolanda Hart Follen

Yolanda Hart Follen, recently of Las Vegas, Nevada, widow of the late AFL-CIO labor leader John E. Follen Jr, passed away quietly at home on September 22, 2015 of natural causes. Yolanda peacefully slipped away after a long illness, in the arms of her son Michael Follen, while also in the company of her son Richard and her nurses, Mallou, Pia & Stephanie. She passed away where she chose to be, at home, with her favorite music playing, and among her treasured books and photographs, her precious pets and her loved ones.

Born in Texas on October 8, 1927, to a family of Basque, Irish, Austrian & Scandinavian descent, she was the youngest of 15 children. Yolanda was raised for several years along with several of her sisters in a Catholic Convent in Mesilla, New Mexico, where her eldest sister was a novice nun. Yolanda was a Catholic woman of strong faith who accomplished many things in life, and was active in many charitable organizations throughout her life. She was a longtime resident of Southern California where she raised 5 children, Marsha, Thomas, Michael, Richard and Victor. Yolanda was an accomplished vocalist of professional stature who sang in her youth with the likes of such great performers as Nat King Cole, Liberace, Al Morgan, Al Martino and Gloria Hart, in New York nightclubs as well as the Chez Paree, Pump Room and The Brass Rail in Chicago. Yolanda was a marvelous chef, baker, seamstress, and quilt maker. She loved to dance, sing, run, ski, roller-skate, was an avid (Voracious) reader, she loved to work in the garden and spent endless hours in bible study, after going to 6am mass every morning. Yolanda was an active animal rights activist and rescued many stray and discarded animals who became her precious pets. She was a Los Angeles marathon runner, a league bowler, and a prolific writer, and along with her late husband Jack Follen, was a leader in the National Democratic Club and was active in the Monterey Park Democratic Club for many years. She faithfully contributed to both the Catholic Church and various charities such as Alzheimer's Research, AIDS, Cancer Research, Catholic Charities, Heart Association, St Jude's, Autism Awareness, Inner City Children, Unwed Mothers, Feed The Children, U.S. Veteran's, and supported Native Americans and several orphans worldwide until she died. Over the years, many of the children she gave support to, exchanged letters with her until they entered college. Later in life Yolanda worked with her son Michael in various fundraising and social activities that offered her the opportunity to stand toe to toe in social settings with celebrities who always admired her down to earth, friendly and forthright manner of speaking and her warmth. Yolanda seldom just offered her hand politely when greeting anyone, she usually embraced them in a tight hug, causing Dean Martin to say "Don't squeeze my liver too hard honey". In 1982, Yolanda had the opportunity to sing duets with Dean Martin at her son Michael's Beverly Hills place of business, she was thrilled to sing with the man whose singing brought her and her husband such pleasure over the years. After that day, Dean often stopped by daily to chat with her. Actress Elizabeth Taylor once told Yolanda "You have a more beautiful complexion than me, you have a better manicure than I do, but I use more "colorful" and inappropriate language"... Actor Barry Sullivan referred to Yolanda as "The little girl" (She only stood 5' tall and she adored Barry) Actor Martin Sheen told her that he'd never heard anyone speak Spanish as beautifully, nor as rapidly as she did, he'd say to her, "Please slow down, I'm not that good at it" (Yolanda was bilingual in English & Spanish, and also proficient in both French & Italian) actor Rock Hudson called her a "Spitfire" and when actress Natalie Wood died in 1982, Yolanda was at her home with flowers, candy and stuffed animals for Natalie's children, she was always ready to offer comfort and a smile to everyone. While Yolanda's passions and interests in life were varied, her heart was always with her children and her family, all of whom she loved dearly, and her unwavering faith was always in the Lord. In her final years she was often melancholy about the physical limitations that prevented her from seeing her family and her grandchildren, and prevented her from moving about, as frequently as she would have liked to; but despite any health issue or infirmity, she always held strong to her faith and the conviction that she could endure anything for as long as the Lord gave her the strength. In the end, she often spoke of wanting to be where she is now, with her late husband Jack Follen and her siblings, resting in peace and enjoying eternal life.

Yolanda leaves behind her 5 children, daughter Marsha & husband Raymond Abeyta, of San Marino, CA., her son Tom & wife Bertha Hart of Palm Desert, CA. her sons Michael & Richard Follen of Las Vegas, NV and her youngest child, Victor Follen of Arcadia, CA., 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, and many nieces & nephews and extended family members, as well as 5 remaining siblings. She was preceded in death by her 6 older sisters and her younger brother Joe. Yolanda often shared her rich family history and honest accounts of her heritage, through her detailed memories of the past. She was often the "go to" person when anyone needed family information. Everyone who knew her, will miss her beautiful face and lovely smile, her lovely singing voice, and engaging personality, and her compassionate words of love, family, wisdom, forgiveness, faith and hope. She was a good Christian woman all of her life, a wonderful loving mother and devoted wife, and a kind & sweet loving soul who is now resting in the arms of our Lord with her beloved husband Jack. There is one more beautiful flower in Heaven today, Yolanda, The Yellow Rose of Texas, God's newest singing angel.

Yolanda's funeral service will be held at St Gregory's, the Catholic church that her late husband's uncle, Msgr. Victor Follen, raised the funds to build in 1926. The funeral director is lifelong family friend Dick Cunningham, and the priest officiating at the funeral service is retired Msgr. Al Scott, who is also a lifelong family friend. Both Dick Cunningham and Msgr. Scott's families, were good friends of Msgr. Follen and their families helped raise the funds to build the church almost a 100 years ago. Yolanda will be the 28th member of the Follen family to be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery, where several family friends are also interred.