Yvette Gabriella Picconi

Yvette Gabriella Picconi passed peacefully at her home on July 4, 2020. She was 55 years of age and had lived a very full and exciting life!
Yvette was born May 19, 1965 in Glendale, CA. She would remain in the area along the San Gabriel Valley her entire lifetime, growing up in Covina and San Dimas. She lived in her own 'dollhouse' home with a pink door, for approximately 30 years. It was two doors away from her childhood, and Dad's home in San Dimas.
Yvette's caring and love for her family, friends, students, associates and pets are some qualities that were unusually strong. She somehow intuitively knew the right thing to say at the right time. She also was very keenly aware of how some people needed help and did her best to acknowledge them and help make them feel better about themselves. It seemed to be one of her passions. She could make friends with someone hanging out by the stairs to her hotel said one of her close friends recalling their trip to NYC and how she befriended someone during their stay and would talk with them each day as she passed by headed on her travels and sight seeing for the day.
Yvette was a fast runner and good student in Elementary and Junior High School. She was a Blue Bird in the early 70's and excited to participate. Everywhere that she went, strangers would always comment on her beautiful (natural) auburn-colored hair. They would ask her mother if that was natural, which it was.
Yvette would tragically lose her Mom, Lena Olvera Picconi, at the age of 9 years old. She saw her get electrocuted in their backyard in Covina, CA. That day would forever stay with her. Her Mom, Lena's spirit, would forever stay with Yvette throughout her lifetime, always somehow in her thoughts and prayers.
Her brother said, 'I felt like both our parents were there when Yvette passed on.'
After Her Mother passed, Her Dad, Luigi Picconi, an Italian Immigrant from Lazio/Tuscany descent would buy Yvette's forever horse, Tequila in 1976. On weekends, the family would visit their Father's co-worker and good friend, Leonard Marinaccio, of Sunland/Tujunga, California. Over time, and with God's grace, Her Dad Luigi was able to purchase a home in San Dimas, CA with horse property. They moved there during the second half of the school year in 1977. Yvette and Tequila would begin making new friends in San Dimas and showing in first Gymkhana, then English Equitation and Pleasure classes. Yvette won high point (winning the highest point ribbons) at gymkhana horse shows with Tequila as her steed, and also would later excelled at English Equitation and sometimes English Pleasure winning high point at the Oak Tree Ranch Riding Club. She attended local horse shows in San Dimas, Glendora, and Covina. Yvette had a way of holding perfect posture while riding her smooth, Tequila. I remember her blue hunt coat which was almost a royal blue and how it stood out in the sea of gray and dark shade hunt coats in Yvette's English classes. And also, I remember Yvette's dimples!
Her grandmother, Gorizia Trieste Picconi, would move to San Dimas in 1979 at the age of 64 to help with the children and become their second mother. It was through this process that Yvette was able to learn to speak Italian fluently. She had the local Tuscan dialect as well which is not easy to learn. It came natural for Yvette, through her keen ability to listen to her Nonna's pronunciation, as well as Yvette's high intellect.
Yvette was a popular girl at San Dimas High School and at the local Glendora McDonald's which were her life from 1981 to 1983. She was a Varsity Song Cheerleader and loved dance and music and her classmates...as well as being promoted quickly to Swing Manager at the local McDonald's. Yvette knew how to run bin (the food supply) very well and could delegate to achieve quick food service on the busiest Friday nights. She became a favorite among her co-workers and customers alike. You could always count on Yvette to help you and make you feel happier and like you mattered. She had a very quick wit and great sense of humor as well! Yvette was on the homecoming court for her Senior Prom. She was also actively involved in the Yearbook production under capable hands, Professor and longtime friend, Katie Miller.
After graduating high school, Yvette would attend Mount San Antonio College for her general education classes and also enrolled in Jazz with Professor, Lee Martino for years, and then transferred to Cal Poly Pomona, where she would earn her family's first college degree (She was a Pioneer!) in 1989. Yvette's focus was in Management and Human Resources. She would later attend the University of LaVerne and earn a credential there as well.
Yvette loved dance and helped open the Glendora Jazzercise Franchise. This became her life for many years and she loved helping her students stay fit, having fun and enjoyed the stage. She used to tell her brother about conversations and funny things that would happen to her while teaching. At one point, She would bring her cat, Chloe Marie Picconi, and turn her loose on the stage during the cool down. Yvette was well-liked and had high attendance during her classes. She was interviewed by a local cable channel when the Jazzercise program was being featured. Yvette believed in the program and keeping moving to maintain fitness and well-being. She learned many of her students names and made them feel welcome.
Yvette would always love the Jazzercise program and you could find her learning new routines for years.
She would also become a credentialed Substitute teacher at local schools, and while attending the University of LaVerne, her photo was featured on the cover of a school publication studying.
She began teaching tap, and ballet to girls under the age of 12 in the local cities of San Dimas and Walnut. Yvette didn't spend a lot of time sitting still during her most active years.
In March of 1995, Yvette would obtain her real estate license and began selling real estate. This would become a passion of hers for the rest of her life. Her biggest thrill was not only the thrill of getting her client's offer accepted, but she also enjoyed the process, making new friends, attending inspections and feeling like she was contributing to a greater cause than herself. She had a very personal touch and would also visit her clients during special holidays. It was normal for her to bring cute gifts, bake homemade brownies for her clients, friends and neighbors and also attend special events like weddings, showers and baptisms. Yvette was well-liked by her clients and associates.
One of Yvette's clients and close friends had this to share about her. 'During my shower, everyone was signing a group card for me. Yvette, not having had her own children, didn't know what to write in the card. So she wrote, 'Buy low, sell high.' That was her sense of humor and wit. She had an uncanny way of making you feel like you mattered and making you laugh'
Yvette's personality and looks over her lifetime were compared to' Cher, Gina Lollobrigida, the character Phoebe from the TV sitcom, 'Friends' and Lucille Ball from 'I Love Lucy'.
Her brother remembers, 'There were several instances Yvette told me about that would just be so unplanned and funny, that you couldn't help but laugh! One time she told me that she was following her buyers down the stairs in a home that she was showing them, and she lost her balance and fell on her clients and everyone screamed! There was another Realtor waiting outside to show the home, who quickly knocked asking if everyone was alright? That was just one memory of the many of all the funny, zany things that Yvette and those closest her got to experience. She made my life and everyone else's more fun. Every day I think of her and miss her. It is not fair to lose someone so sweet and beautiful at such a young age. My only condolence is that Yvette is no longer living her life half way...due to her illness. A close Friend recently reminded me how hard it was for Yvette when she realized that she could no longer teach Jazzercise.'
Right before Yvette's 49th birthday, She would find out that she had stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. Yvette spent her 49th Birthday in the hospital and would battle Cancer for six years. Her family, neighbors, students, and friends would help her along her journey and bring her to her treatments, as well as help her maintain her yard, plants and pets.
One of Yvette's clients said, 'Yvette, Thank You for always remembering our family during Christmas, and also for your professionalism in also helping us find our family home. You will forever be in our hearts.'
Yvette had an antenna for helping find pets their forever homes. Several people she loved got their pets somehow connected through Yvette...and Yvette would always ask about them and considered them part of the family. She would call herself, Aunt Yvette and enjoyed visiting them or texting photos of her own pets and those she helped place.
She was also a valued member of the San Dimas Equestrian Committee.
Yvette enjoyed and loved her dalmatian, Ashley. She bred Ashley a few times and had lots of little dalmatians running around her farm in San Dimas. She enjoyed them so much and was able to help them all find great homes and would talk about Ashley's kids from time to time....like they were real people. She loved their names, as well.
A close and Dear High School Friend of Yvette's said, 'This is hard to condense, but She had so much love for her people and her animals. She loved seeing her loved ones, clients and students happy. Everyday, when I think of Her, I think of the love that she had for each of our family members.'
Towards the end of her life, Yvette enjoyed most being at home with her pets and spending time in her garden feeding the birds and planting mostly pink and purple flowers. She would also go on Facebook often and like your posts. Her flowering plants and succulents continue to thrive under her brother's and other close friends, family, students and client's care. Yvette's contributions to all of us, will be remembered forever and is always in our hearts.
If you are interested in a succulent from her succulent garden, please contact her Brother, Todd. He will gladly help you get one of them for your own garden.
Her brother, Todd Picconi, is the last survivor of The Picconi Family.
Donations can be made to any local pet rescue in her honor. Yvette Gabriella Picconi is buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights, CA within the same grass area as her immediate, beloved family.
Her brother wishes to extend his extreme gratitude for the contributions others who knew and loved his Sister made to Her.