Yvette Marie Helene Jeanclaude, was the last of seven children born to the Jeanclaude family, in a small village in France. She was orphaned at the age of twelve and entered a boarding school in Nancy, France, "Enfant Jesus Convent", where she graduated from high school. She then attended a secretarial school and moved to Paris where she found work.
Yvette married Bernard Zenner, in 1943, in Paris, where he was a performer with the "Cirque d' Hiver". The next year saw the birth of their daughter, Francine.
While Bernard was preforming with the "Rose Gould Act" in Paris, they were booked by John Ringling North of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus to come to the United States and be the center ring act for the1947-48 season. The family left France in early 1947 and arrived in Sarasota, Florida, then the circus' winter quarters. In the ensuing years, Yvette became a performer too, doing the big spectaculars, web and trapeze. Her circus career ended in 1955. By then, she and Bernard had divorced and she settled with her daughter in Sarasota.
In 1956 she graduated from cosmetology school and practiced as a beautician until she retired in 1988. She loved her work and clients and her clients loved her.
In 1960, she married Sid Foote, and they were happily married until his death in 1985. Besides being a printer Sid was an advance man in the 1950’s for the circus and would work in the off seasons for "The Sarasota Herald Tribune". He eventually worked at the “Tribune” full time until his retirement in the early 1980’s.
In 1987, Yvette married, William D. Young. He worked as a mechanical engineer throughout his career. They both retired and were able to enjoy traveling the country with their dog, Nounoun, for several years. Yvette had vacationed for over 20 years in the North Carolina mountains and her dream was to spend the rest of her life there. So in 1994, they moved to Linville Land Harbor, near Newland, NC, and have lived there ever since. She has always been grateful to Bill for making it possible for her to live out her life in the place of her dreams.
Yvette loved the mountains, they reminded her of the Alsace region of France where she grew up. She had a strong faith and was a member of St. Martha's Parish from 1947 until she left Sarasota. In North Caroline she was very active in the life of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Linville, NC. Always a talented seamstress, in her retirement she became an accomplished quilter. She was devoted to her quilting group. Yvette was a member of the volunteers at Canon Memorial Hospital for over 19 years, and worked in the gift shop, plus knitting many baby layettes that then were donated for sale there. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother; a wonderful cook, loyal friend and avid reader. She lived a remarkable life of 97 years and was always cheerful and faced adversity with a stout heart and lots of hard work and fortitude. Everyone who knew her loved her.
Yvette is survived by her husband of 32 years, William D. Young; her daughter, Francine Hagar and son-law, Chris Hagar of Bigfork, MT; her grandson, Paul Hagar and daughter-in-law, Tricia Mullaney , and grandchildren, Ronan Hagar and Madeleine Hagar of Westfield, NJ; her granddaughter, Ardelle Hagar, son-in-law, Adam Gerber, and grandchildren Yvette Gerber and Eamon Gerber of Lake Forest, IL; her step-children, William Young and his wife, Terri, of Exeter, RI and Charles Young and his wife, Denise of Thompson, CN and sister-in-law, Helen Young.
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