Yvonne Souder Paffe

PAFFE Yvonne Souder Paffe, 86, of Jacksonville, passed away unexpectedly on October 28, 2014. As a girl, Yvonne (Mama) grew up in the mountains of Beckley, West Virginia, surrounded by a large, loving family. She rode her bicycle, ice skated, and played in the snow. She attended Woodrow Wilson High School where she was on the homecoming court, and Beckley College where she was a member of Beta Theta Mu Sorority, intending to major in Journalism until she was swept off her feet by a St. Augustine native, Fabian Joseph Paffe, Jr. Together they raised their 10 children moving from St. Augustine to Port St. Joe to Pensacola and settling in Jacksonville for the past 38 years. Although she was raised in West Virginia, Yvonne also had a large family in St. Augustine, Florida. She was a remarkable woman who was proud of her Minorcan heritage. She made the best Pilau using Dad's home grown datil peppers! Yvonne took her vocation as a wife and mother to heart, taking care of her husband to the end and guiding her children with wit and wisdom. Mama enjoyed an occasional Heineken, fried shrimp, and chicken and dumplings. She was a fan of the Florida Gators and a West Virginia Mountaineer. She was a voracious reader of the Smithsonian and the National Geographic. You would see her dressed often in red, white and blue showing her deep patriotic devotion to her Country. She had a passion for camping and wanted to be a Blue Angels pilot, but most of all, she loved and lived for her children. She welcomed anyone and everyone to come sit and visit for a spell. She was a Godly woman, gentle, patient and full of kindness. She lived her faith through her actions and was dedicated to praying the rosary. She was a faithful wife for 66 years and a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Yvonne will leave a legacy of steadfast faith and total commitment to those she loved. Her disciplined and organized nature allowed her to create and maintain a wonderful life for her beloved family. She was also a devout Roman Catholic, a member of the Catholic Women's Club, volunteered with Respite Care and Meals-on-Wheels, and many other charities. Yvonne was preceded in death by her mother, Gertrude Clare Carrera Souder, and her father, Fred Souder. She will be deeply missed and is survived by her husband of 66 years, Joe Paffe; her ten children -Annette Mills, Brenda Kirschner, Joe Paffe III, Claire Johnson, Dyna Boland, Elaine Curran, Francine Hatton, Michael Paffe, Paul Paffe and Gretchen Paffe; 18 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; her sister Suzanne Souder Lynch and her half-brother David Souder. Please notice that her seven girls were named in alphabetical order!! Visitation will be held on Friday, October 31, 2014 from 5-7pm at Craig Funeral Home, St. Augustine, FL.with prayers beginning at 5:00pm. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 12pm at San Jose Catholic Church, Jacksonville, FL with the Rev. Terry Morgan, celebrant. Burial will be at San Lorenzo Catholic Cemetery at 4:30pm in St. Augustine, FL. Honorary Pallbearers are her sons: Joe Paffe, Michael Paffe and Paul Paffe, and grandsons: Chris Boland, Christopher Futch and Billy Curran. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Divine Mercy House, a Catholic Maternity Home, 11018 Old St. Augustine Rd., Jax., FL 32257 or to the IM Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless,611 E. Adams St. Jax., Fl 32202. After Glow I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one, I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun, of happy memories that I leave when life is done. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com