Yvonne Marie Songy

Yvonne, affectionately known as “Brownie” (because of her big brown eyes) and “Vonnie”, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 8, 1938, to Edwin and Marie Bernos. She married her loving husband, Roy, in 1964, and together they had three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Vonnie received her nursing degree from Hotel Dieu in New Orleans and her bachelor's degree from St. Joseph’s College of Maine, making lifelong friendships along the way. She shared her compassionate heart and nursing skills working in San Francisco, then New Orleans, where she worked at Ochsner Foundation. Her career continued as a Clinic Administrator at Ochsner, and she served as president of the American Academy of Ambulatory Nursing Administration. She also served on the board of directors and was a fellow of the American College of Medical Group Administrators, and president of the Louisiana Medical Group Management Association during her 30-year tenure. After retiring from Ochsner, she co-founded Bodyjoys Day Spa and Salon in New Orleans, allowing her to further her interests in health and wellness. As a result of Hurricane Katrina, she and Roy moved to Middleton, Wisconsin, then later to Frisco, Texas, to be closer to family.

Vonnie was a trailblazer, paving the way for future generations of women in corporate settings. Over her career, she began as a staff nurse and retired as an administrative associate with Ochsner. She was the first woman to join the senior management ranks and was instrumental in the development and growth of the clinic, opening neighborhood clinics, as well as a regional medical center and renal dialysis facilities. She continued forging new paths with the inception of Bodyjoys. Her knowledge, expertise, collaborative spirit, and warmth made her a role model and inspiration to all who knew her.

In addition to her many career accomplishments, Vonnie had an adventurous spirit, traveling all over the world with her family, friends, and the infamous Red Cup Brigade. She had a way of making every adventure fun, every memory filled with love and laughter.

Vonnie’s biggest source of pride and joy was her family; she adored her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, recognizing all their individual personalities and interests, and sharing deep, personal relationships with each of them.

As a woman of strong faith, she lived her life showing kindness, grace, loving wholeheartedly, and helping others. Her generous spirit and legacy will continue through the numerous lives she has touched and her loving family.

She is survived by her husband Roy; children, Michele (Mark) Joslyn, David (Laurie) Songy, Nicole (Jorge) Gonzalez-Rodiles; grandchildren, Alex, Evan, and Katie Joslyn, Christian (Maddie) Songy, Alexa (Jason) Culotta, Aiden and Vanesa Gonzalez-Rodiles; great-grandchildren, Hudson Songy, Analeigh and Henry Culotta; siblings, Therese Kuehne, Louise Hack, Thomas Bernos, and extended family and friends.

Our family would like to thank Lifted Hospice and Beehive Homes of Frisco for their love and care of Vonnie over the past five months.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date in late spring/early summer in the New Orleans area. In lieu of flowers, donations in Yvonne’s memory may be made to the Yvonne Bernos Songy Memorial Fund: https://northshorefoundation.org/donate/memorials-honorariums/ and will support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other organizations that were important to Vonnie.