Yvonne Suarez

Yvonne Marie Suarez, age 89, of Pellston passed away, June 26, 2019 at Hiland Cottage in Petoskey where she had been for three days. She was born at the beginning of the great depression, October 29th, 1929 in Columbiaville, Michigan, the daughter of Lorenzo and Reva (Kile) Cody.

Yvonne grew up very poor and became very strong at an early age.  She moved to Cheboygan and was on her own at age 14.  She married Chuck Rabideau at a young age and had five children (Charlene, Marcia, Cody, Ben, and Karl).  She endured many hardships, but with strength and perseverance she raised her children.  She became an avid horseman, training and showing.  In 1967 she married the love of her life, Gosi Manuel Suarez.  She moved to the farm West of Pellston, where she continued her work with horses.  Manuel built her a special barn for her 8 horses.   In 1969 they had a son Mario.  They were active in fairs and parades with the horses including the Pellston Pioneer Days parade.  In the 70's her passion turned to antiques, so they bought the old ice cream parlor in Pellston and it became Town & Country Antiques.  Her shop continued well into 2009.  In 2012 she lost Manuel. 

She was a member of the Red Hat Society and TOPS and enjoyed barrel racing horses, winning several trophies, medals and ribbons, baking bread to enter in the fair where she won several blue ribbons, antiques, line dancing, cross country skiing, crocheting and dressing up for every holiday with her sister Dort, and deer hunting with Iris and Bob Robbins.

Survivors include her three sons, Karl Rabideau, Ben Rabideau and Mario (Michelle) Suarez, two sisters, Dorothy Mienkwick and Ginny (Bill) Hansen,  her step-daughter, Linda Suarez-Twardzik, step-sister, Caroline Altene, grandchildren, Amber Rabideau, Chad (Laura) Rabideau, Brandi Rabideau, Marlianna Suarez, Jakeb Suarez, Janelle (Ryan) LaLonde-Stanick, Jason (Amy) LaLaonde, Darrin (Christy), Heidi, Toby and Laurie (Steve) and her great grandchildren, Kaleb, Greyson, Nevaeh, Lexi, Tanner, Evan, Garret, Ally, Hailey, Hunter, Gunner (Travis),  Joey, Elizabeth, Zoey, Cami and Alicia.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gosi, three sisters Norma, Wilma, and Iris, her son, Cody Rabideau, two daughters, Marcia LaLonde and Charlene McKervey, her step-daughter, Anita Cameron and her granddaughter, Wendy Cameron.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at the McKinley Twp. Hall from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. Arrangements are being handled by the Nordman-Christian Funeral Home.

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