Yvonne Carite Ferrara

On the morning of August 10, 2021, Yvonne passed away as a result of pulmonary complications. Yvonne was being visited and comforted by family, Heather Brumfield, and Fay Jones at Villa St. Marie in Jefferson, LA at the time of her passing. Yvonne was 81 years old.

She was born in New Orleans, LA on September 26, 1939, the oldest child of Anna and Louis Carite, Sr. For 38 years, she was married to Salvador Ferrara until his passing. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and business owner.

She has received the call—the sort of offer you cannot refuse—for an appointment from which she will not return. However, her assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus: a reunion, at last, with family and friends she has not seen for so long. Her new mission will take her to a wonderful place where she will be socializing, dancing, second line dancing, and preparing that infamous gumbo of hers. She will always be remembered for her feistiness and wit. She left detailed instructions for her children and grandchildren to celebrate her earthly mission here, which is now complete.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Salvador Ferrara, and her parents, Louis Carite, Sr. and Anna Crombe Carite. Yvonne is survived by: her children, Mark Toepfer (Debbie), Matthew Toepfer (Debbie), Pamela Toepfer Patin (Richard), Patrice Toepfer Rivet (Jeff), Penny Toepfer Taylor (Ira), Peggy Toepfer Egan (Robert); her 13 grandchildren, Jason, Randall, Kassie, Joshua, Bernadette, Chantall, Vincent, Andrew, Caitlin, Sophie, Cody, JonAlan, and Robin; her 16 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Joan Nelson (Even), Lydia Knecht (Ralph), Louis Carite, Jr. (Brenda); and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all the Staff at Villa St. Marie for the care given to Yvonne.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service to be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124 on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Yvonne’s memory to Children’s Hospital New Orleans: www.chnola.org/chnola-giving/ or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: www.stjude.org/donate

To view and sign the guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com