Obituary of Yvonne Vaughan

It is with sadness but with gratitude for a life filled with caring and compassion that we announce the peaceful passing of Yvonne Vaughan on August 16, 2023, surrounded by family. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Dorothy Sullivan. Yvonne received her early schooling in New York, U.S.A. and Dalhousie, New Brunswick and after attending New Brunswick Teachers' College she made Fredericton her permanent home. After teaching assignments in rural New Brunswick and a hiatus to raise her family, of whom she was extremely proud, she returned to school and received masters degrees in Sociology and Education from the University of New Brunswick and a certificate in guidance. She was assigned to Fredericton High School where she developed and taught the curriculum for the high school Sociology course and served as a high school guidance counsellor.  She loved her work and would tell her students, “If you teach your passion, you run to work every morning.” Her passion was rewarded with several teaching awards over the years, including the Hilroy Fellowship Award “for teachers who developed new approaches, methods or devices for the improvement of general education”.

Yvonne had a special love of music and acting and in the past shared her voice and piano skills with choirs and other singing groups. She even took to the Fredericton Playhouse stage in the early days of TNB. She was particularly fond of Broadway musicals and took great joy in singing along to their soundtracks. She knew every word. She was always up for a discussion on current events and kept up to date with news programs and news magazines. Kind and generous, Yvonne was always one to think of others. She shared her cooking skills, particularly her baking, with many. Her Christmas “rum cakes” and fudge were always welcomed by those lucky enough to receive them and there were always homemade cookies in the cookie jar and going out the door to friends and family. Her beautiful hand knit sweaters and crocheted afghans will continue to keep many adults and children warm. Past summers at Magaguadavic Lake with her young family resulted in the forging of cherished lifelong friendships with the other Summer residents from New Brunswick and the United States. In recent years, she embraced technology and enjoyed spending time at her computer researching, writing and recording.   

One of her greatest joys, by far, was welcoming her two granddaughters into the family. She loved being called “Nana” and sharing stories and experiences with Lily and Robyn.      

Yvonne is survived by her husband, Steve Crawford, her children, Mary Ellen Vaughan (Paul Breneol) and Scott Vaughan (Carlene Heckman), her two much loved granddaughters, Lily and Robyn Breneol of Fredericton, her sister, Kathie Brien (Alfred), her special nieces, Tara Cyr, Nicole Brien, Erin Brien, Jill Toombs and their families, as well as many friends and former teaching colleagues.   

In keeping with Yvonne’s wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral service. A private family celebration of her life will take place at a later date. 

The family is grateful for the care provided by the Fredericton Extra-Mural and Palliative Care Service that allowed Yvonne to remain at home during her illness.