Obituary for Yvonne Parikas
Yvonne Genevieve (Runkle) Parikas
August 19, 1939 - March 10, 2021
Yvonne Genevieve Parikas (nee Runkle), of Columbus, NJ and formerly of Hamilton Township, NJ, was born on August 19, 1939 in Hamilton Township, NJ and died on March 10, 2021 at The Samaritan Center in Mount Holly, NJ. She left behind her adoring family: devoted husband of 56 years Bill Parikas; children Susie and Pat Koble and Lynn and Tom Roosa; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Courtney and Matt Marsallo (Olivia and Maggie), Kimberly Roosa (Isaiah), Ashley and Stephen Williams (Sebby), Brittany and Devin DiNofa (Paige and Roman), Joshua and Ali Koble, and Brooke Koble.
Yvonne graduated Hamilton West High School in 1958, raised her family, and concluded her working years with the State of New Jersey. She was strong, loving, clever, fiercely loyal and unbelievably tough. She survived her parents’ divorce at 18; being widowed by her first husband, Bill Kucker, at 23 with two little girls; losing her youngest child, Billy Parikas, as a newborn; providing hospice care to her beloved father Graydon; and a slew of health issues that put her on oxygen for the last decade of her life. She persevered through every challenge she ever met, and through it all savored a life full of unconditional love, abundant laughter and a deep and unwavering commitment to family.
She married Bill in 1965, and together they created a tight knit and loving family that brought them great joy. In their 56 years together, their unending devotion to one another and their family, and their ability to laugh through all of life’s big and mundane adventures, set an awe-inspiring example of what true love and marriage can and should be.
Yvonne adored babies and children and was an exceptionally committed mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, or “G.G.” She would and did travel anywhere to see, support and celebrate her grandchildren: New York, Bloomsburg, Paris, Philadelphia, D.C., Nantucket, London, and more. One of her first priorities in her and Bill’s move from Hamilton Township to Columbus was setting up a toy box for her great-grandbabies, and she never failed to shower them with gifts for birthdays, Christmas or even just the 4th of July. They will always associate mini-Tootsie Pops and ice cream cones with Grammy and Poppy’s house.
A true Jersey girl, Yvonne loved the shore, diners, shopping, the boardwalk, seafood and playing the slots in Atlantic City. She was creative and loved to paint, knit, craft, crochet, garden, cook, bake, and go to movies and the theater. She was unflinchingly honest and would never hesitate to tell you if she didn’t like your haircut, political opinion, or husband. She loved going out to eat and knew the life story of every diner waiter or waitress who ever served her. She believed in telling the truth, doing the right thing and in the karmic cycle of life. She liked to play cards and harass her opponents, especially her son in law. She was a talker and often started sentences “Really and truthfully…” She listened to Christmas carols year round, loved Motown/”oldies” music, and was a regular on the Trenton and New York dancing scene in her youth. She had a hot temper, suffered NO fools, and could be absolutely scathing in her critique of bad behavior. She loved picking out birthday and anniversary cards for her family that had just the right message. She was empathetic, supporting a multitude of charities and knitting hats for newborn babies at Virtua Hospital and scarves for cancer patients at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She had a frank and witty sense of humor and frequently dissolved into giggle fits with her husband, daughters and grandchildren. She would do, quite simply, anything for the people she loved, just as they would all do in return.
Yvonne’s presence, wisdom, support, humor and ferocious love will be forever missed by her family. She was a true matriarch of the family she has left behind, and it’s impossible to imagine this world without her. Her memory will forever be a blessing to us all.
Yvonne’s family will celebrate her life in a private ceremony at Bordentown Home for Funerals and requests that memorial donations be made to Samaritan Hospice, CHOP, or St. Jude’s Hospital for Children.
Arrangements are under the direct care and supervision of Robert L. Pecht, Bordentown Home for Funerals 40 Crosswicks St. Bordentown, NJ 08505. Please go to Yvonne's Book of memories page at www.Bordentownhomeforfunerals.com to upload a picture, make a donation or offer condolences to the family.
August 19, 1939 - March 10, 2021
Yvonne Genevieve Parikas (nee Runkle), of Columbus, NJ and formerly of Hamilton Township, NJ, was born on August 19, 1939 in Hamilton Township, NJ and died on March 10, 2021 at The Samaritan Center in Mount Holly, NJ. She left behind her adoring family: devoted husband of 56 years Bill Parikas; children Susie and Pat Koble and Lynn and Tom Roosa; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Courtney and Matt Marsallo (Olivia and Maggie), Kimberly Roosa (Isaiah), Ashley and Stephen Williams (Sebby), Brittany and Devin DiNofa (Paige and Roman), Joshua and Ali Koble, and Brooke Koble.
Yvonne graduated Hamilton West High School in 1958, raised her family, and concluded her working years with the State of New Jersey. She was strong, loving, clever, fiercely loyal and unbelievably tough. She survived her parents’ divorce at 18; being widowed by her first husband, Bill Kucker, at 23 with two little girls; losing her youngest child, Billy Parikas, as a newborn; providing hospice care to her beloved father Graydon; and a slew of health issues that put her on oxygen for the last decade of her life. She persevered through every challenge she ever met, and through it all savored a life full of unconditional love, abundant laughter and a deep and unwavering commitment to family.
She married Bill in 1965, and together they created a tight knit and loving family that brought them great joy. In their 56 years together, their unending devotion to one another and their family, and their ability to laugh through all of life’s big and mundane adventures, set an awe-inspiring example of what true love and marriage can and should be.
Yvonne adored babies and children and was an exceptionally committed mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, or “G.G.” She would and did travel anywhere to see, support and celebrate her grandchildren: New York, Bloomsburg, Paris, Philadelphia, D.C., Nantucket, London, and more. One of her first priorities in her and Bill’s move from Hamilton Township to Columbus was setting up a toy box for her great-grandbabies, and she never failed to shower them with gifts for birthdays, Christmas or even just the 4th of July. They will always associate mini-Tootsie Pops and ice cream cones with Grammy and Poppy’s house.
A true Jersey girl, Yvonne loved the shore, diners, shopping, the boardwalk, seafood and playing the slots in Atlantic City. She was creative and loved to paint, knit, craft, crochet, garden, cook, bake, and go to movies and the theater. She was unflinchingly honest and would never hesitate to tell you if she didn’t like your haircut, political opinion, or husband. She loved going out to eat and knew the life story of every diner waiter or waitress who ever served her. She believed in telling the truth, doing the right thing and in the karmic cycle of life. She liked to play cards and harass her opponents, especially her son in law. She was a talker and often started sentences “Really and truthfully…” She listened to Christmas carols year round, loved Motown/”oldies” music, and was a regular on the Trenton and New York dancing scene in her youth. She had a hot temper, suffered NO fools, and could be absolutely scathing in her critique of bad behavior. She loved picking out birthday and anniversary cards for her family that had just the right message. She was empathetic, supporting a multitude of charities and knitting hats for newborn babies at Virtua Hospital and scarves for cancer patients at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She had a frank and witty sense of humor and frequently dissolved into giggle fits with her husband, daughters and grandchildren. She would do, quite simply, anything for the people she loved, just as they would all do in return.
Yvonne’s presence, wisdom, support, humor and ferocious love will be forever missed by her family. She was a true matriarch of the family she has left behind, and it’s impossible to imagine this world without her. Her memory will forever be a blessing to us all.
Yvonne’s family will celebrate her life in a private ceremony at Bordentown Home for Funerals and requests that memorial donations be made to Samaritan Hospice, CHOP, or St. Jude’s Hospital for Children.
Arrangements are under the direct care and supervision of Robert L. Pecht, Bordentown Home for Funerals 40 Crosswicks St. Bordentown, NJ 08505. Please go to Yvonne's Book of memories page at www.Bordentownhomeforfunerals.com to upload a picture, make a donation or offer condolences to the family.