Lulubar “Lulu” Yucel
June 29, 1928 – February 4, 2026
Lulubar “Lulu” Yucel passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida, surrounded by her loving family. She was 97 years old.
Life and Legacy
Lulu was born in Istanbul, Türkiye, and grew up in the Fenerbahçe neighborhood. She attended Üsküdar Amerikan Kız Koleji (Üsküdar American Girls College) in Istanbul. In 1951, she married Nihat Yucel, a city planner. They moved to Ankara, Türkiye and shared 54 years of marriage until his passing in 2005.
She lived in the United States intermittently beginning in 1979 and made Florida her permanent home in 2005.
Family
Lulu is survived by her daughter, Zeynep Girisgen; her son, Murat Yucel; her grandchildren, Ayse Karsagi, Defne Matheny, and Yasemin Korzun; and her ten beloved great-grandchildren.
Remembering Lulu
Lulu cherished time spent with her family and close-knit circle of friends. She enjoyed swimming in the ocean, travelling, cooking and playing cards. Her outlook on life and love for others was beautifully reflected in her two favorite holidays—Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day.
She will be remembered for her deep love of family, her strong Christian faith, her selfless spirit, and her continual gratitude to God for all her blessings.
In Lieu of flowers, please honor Lulu by making a donation to LOSEV-The Foundation for Children with Leukemia, a major Turkish non-profit supporting kids with cancer and blood disorders.
A visitation will be held at Babione - Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremat, located at 1100 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL, 33432, on February 12, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The committal service will take place at Boca Raton Cemetery, 451 SW 4th Ave, Boca Raton, FL, 33432, on February 12, 2026, from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm.
