Adele Yare

Adele Yare passed away peacefully at her home in Sebastopol on March 9, 2013. She is survived by her loving husband Richard Russ, sister Rhoda Yare of Modesto, CA, niece Julia Staley and nephew Eric Staley. She will also be missed by her stepchildren: Tatiana Ranes, Richard D. Russ, and Robert Russ. Adele was born in East St. Louis, IL to Dorothy and Irwin Yare, now deceased. She graduated from East St. Louis Senior High School in 1960, and received her BA from Culver-Stockton College, Canton, MO in 1964. Later in life she earned a Masters Degree in Special Education. After graduation from college, she taught school outside of East St. Louis as a speech therapist. In 1965 Adele married navy pilot David Roberts, and they lived in several states including Hawaii and Texas where she taught school. When her marriage ended in 1974, she visited her sister Rhoda in Rancho Cordova, CA, and was offered a teaching position with the River Delta Unified School District in Sacramento County. Here she found her calling as a Special Education teacher. Throughout her life beginning in high school, Adele had a fascination for the theater and appeared in over 50 plays. In 1980, she appeared in the play "Termidius" at the Bacchus Playhouse in Sacramento, and met fellow actor, Richard Russ. It was their kissing scene that launched a romance that lasted over 32 years. They married in 1981 and began a beautiful life together including travel adventures all over the world (Greece, Peru, Tahiti, Pompeii, China, Hawaii, Belize, Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, England, Scotland, Alaska, Istanbul, throughout the United States, and a most memorable two-week trip to the Grand Canyon - a 280 mile rafting trip down the Colorado River). Adele loved scuba diving which she enjoyed on many of these trips. Influenced by her father, Adele was also an avid gardener. Richard built her a greenhouse at their home in Sacramento where they developed a deep appreciation for growing all types of plants, fruits and vegetables. After Adele retired from her career as a Special Ed. teacher in 1999, her love of nature and gardening compelled her to move to a superior growing climate - a "Zone 15," the best growing soil and weather conditions according to Sunset Magazine. Not finding a suitable location in Sacramento, Adele and Richard discovered a one-acre country home in Sebastopol. They moved into their dream home in 2000 where they have enjoyed an idyllic life working in their beautiful gardens and playing with their cherished dogs, Posy and Patches. Living in Sebastopol, Adele continued to perform in local plays including "Once Upon a Mattress" and "Music Man." Adele loved to sing and recently performed at the SRJC Summer Repertory Theatre in Santa Rosa. Adele was also known for her superior culinary talents, winning many local awards for her baking and canning. Another side of Adele was her unselfish contribution as a volunteer for many local organizations that support history, nature and gardening. She loved working at the Gravenstein Apple Fair the last five years, and recently gave docent tours at Sturgeon's Mill in Sebastopol. For the last 12 years, Adele has been an active volunteer at historic Luther Burbank Home & Gardens in Santa Rosa, serving as board member, docent, volunteer training chair, tea committee co-chair, lecturer, event planner, and so much more. Adele always gave a 100% commitment to all volunteer endeavors. Her smiling face, high intellect, generous nature, and spunky personality will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her. An outdoor celebration of Adele's life will be held on Monday, April 8 at 4:00 p.m. at Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, Santa Rosa & Sonoma Aves., Santa Rosa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her honor may be mailed to LBH&G, 100 Santa Rosa Ave., Room 10, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. To leave a message or comment, please go to www.memorialwebsites.legacy.com/AdeleYare