Yolanda Lucas

Yolanda Lucas was born February 14, 1941 in Restrepo, Valle Colombia. She was the eighth of fourteen children born to Ernestina and Jaime Ramirez. Throughout her life, she remained very close to all of her siblings. Yolanda was known to her entire family to be incredibly generous with her time, energy, and compassion.

Yolanda graduated with a degree in accounting, and soon managed the books for a jewelry store. Always having a sense of independence and adventure, she traveled to the United States in 1968, looking for a better opportunity. In 1969, she met Luis Alberto Lucas in Queens, NY. In that same year, Yolanda and Luis got married at City Hall, and then shared a few slices of pizza and a soda for $3 (a memory they would share and laugh about years later with their children). Their two children, Luis and Soraya were born a few years later. Yolanda worked as a seamstress and then as a gold plater for many years. In 1992, Yolanda became a widow at the passing of her husband Luis, and never remarried.

Yolanda retired and helped raise her two granddaughters, Jamie and Erin. Over the years, she traveled between the U.S. and Colombia, often taking her granddaughters with her. She also cared for her grandson, Matthew while he was still young. Yolanda’s sense of adventure never left her, as she traveled the world. She loved gardening, working with her hands, and spending time with her family.

In February of 2014, Yolanda was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. After a long and hard battle, she peacefully passed into eternal life on November 13, 2015 while surrounded lovingly by her family.