Yvonne Sophie Neau

Dr. Yvonne Sophie Neau (Kraj) completed her life’s journey on January 19, 2026, surrounded by family and friends at her home in Douglasville, Georgia. Yvonne was born on January 25, 1973, in Chicago, IL, to loving parents Stanislaw and Lidia Kraj.

Dr. Neau was a family and correctional physician who graduated as valedictorian from Palatine High School (Palatine, IL) in 1991, then graduated from Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL) as a Cum Laude Honors scholar in 1997. She graduated from The Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Chicago, IL) in 2005 with a degree in family medicine. She completed her residency at The Medical College of Wisconsin (Racine, WI) in 2008. After working as a private physician from 2008 to 2014, she joined CoreCivic as a correctional physician and later served as Regional Medical Director and Deputy Chief Medical Officer beginning in 2019. She was board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and recognized as an industry leader in patient care for diabetes and hepatitis C. Diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer in 2019, Dr. Neau inspired others through her strength and determination, continuing her work as a correctional physician for over 6 years while courageously battling breast cancer.

Yvonne is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 24 years, Michael, and their four incredible children: Marianna (23), Christian (19), Tristan (18), and Preston (16). She is also survived by her loving parents, Stanislaw and Lidia Kraj, her two amazing brothers, Robert Kraj (wife Patsy; children Michael and Victoria) and Gregory Kraj (son Nathan) her mother-in-law Thoralee Neau, and her sister-in-law Victoria Neau (husband Bob). She also leaves behind her three best friends in the world: Elizabeth Schulte (children Vikki and Michael), Ann Marie Miller (husband Paul; children Katie and Liam), and Stephanie Prewitt (son Easton).

Yvonne was an avid crafter who joyfully built her own craft room at home, a place where creativity and love lived side by side. She delighted in hosting holiday gatherings and poured her whole heart into making everyone feel welcomed and cherished. Halloween and Christmas were especially magical for her, with decorations filling both her home and yard for all to enjoy. Even with a demanding medical career, Yvonne always made time to cheer at her children’s sporting and school events and to enjoy shopping trips with friends and family. She continued to embrace these moments of joy and togetherness with remarkable strength to the end.

Yvonne wished for everyone to spend time together at a social gathering or family get-together, sharing stories and remembering her life in a fun and loving way, rather than holding a formal funeral. She also asked that, if they wish, people consider donating to www.metavivor.org, a website dedicated to researching a cure for metastatic breast cancer. Despite her condition, Yvonne, as a caring mother, wife, and friend, always put others first; if there’s anything she’d like us to take away from her journey, it’s that love and kindness can shape the lives we touch. She would want to thank everyone for the care and support given to her family, and to remind us all to be gentle and kind with one another.