Yvonne D' Amore

 D'AMORE YVONNE (nee de GROUCHY) Yvonne, one of the bona fide Earth Angels of her generation, returned to her spiritual home on February 19, 2021. Despite being given 2-3 months to live, Yvonne enjoyed 18 strong months, even in the midst of a pandemic, as she successfully kept a virulent and rare lung cancer in check. Yvonne was predeceased by her parents, Marie and R. Travis de Grouchy, along with many relatives, including her beloved grandmother, Marie Teefy, with whom she spent many summers at the family's Margate beach house during Yvonne's youth. Yvonne is survived by her devoted husband, Frank Michael D'Amore, to whom she was married for 30 years; her revered dogs, Bodhi and Ellie; her sisters, Terry Alsobrook (Jim) and Joanne Koch (John), her brothers, Paul (Lisa) and Travis de Grouchy, Jr. (Mellie), her nieces and nephews, and, among others, her fellow "young cousins," Faith Curran Shelly, Ali Timmins Ellinger, and Sean Kenny., Yvonne was a proud graduate of the University of Maryland. After starting at T. Rowe Price, Yvonne shined as a financial analyst in the healthcare arena, including her tenure in one of the early landmark companies in that field, the former U.S. Healthcare. Kindness, selflessness, and enthusiasm defined Yvonne's life, and led to her developing a legion of fiercely loyal friends who, with her family, played an integral role In supporting Yvonne during her cancer journey. Yvonne was deeply involved in the community, which included her stints as an active member of the Junior Leagues of Philadelphia, Fort Worth, Buffalo, and St. Louis; her cherished days in the Garden Club of America; significant contributions as a key committee member in countless organizations in our area, and for many events, such as the annual Antiques Show, and as a volunteer in many of the most well-known charities in this region. She augmented her Catholic roots by actively helping people and organizations of too many faiths to list, and developed a deep appreciation for the tenets of spirituality. Yvonne was instinctively curious, an avid listener, and an inveterate learner. She loved political discourse, reading, and was a passionate devotee of the singer/songwriter music genre, which included her forming close bonds with the iconic Rachel Platten, a true soul sister, the renowned Brendan James, rising star, David Higgins, and drummer/producer extraordinaire, and good friend, Craig Meyer. Yvonne loved athletics, particularly playing tennis and paddle at the Merion Cricket Club, where she was a Member of the Board of Directors and also chaired the Women's Tennis Program for several years. She treasured being a 9-Holer at the Merion Golf Club, as she developed an instant affinity for that sport. Yvonne was a patron of the arts, which included being a subscriber to the Opera Company of Philadelphia for many years and long-time member of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Yvonne's first date with her husband, in 1982, was to see a performance of the Joffrey Ballet at the Kennedy Center. Yvonne mounted a multi-faceted response to her cancer, which included marrying Western and Eastern medicine, herbal and alternative therapies, DNA mapping, and heavy doses of self-help techniques. Special thanks are extended to Roger Cohen, M.D., the University of Pennsylvania oncologist who expertly quarterbacked her medical team, and Sonja Grace, an energy healer and mystic, who infused Yvonne, at the outset, with an unshakable belief that she could survive, and thrive, in dealing with her illness. In light of COVID, a Celebration of Life event will be deferred until a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be given to: 1) Penn Medicine Development, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104, with checks made out to "Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, in memory of Yvonne D'Amore," which will specifically target Dr. Cohen's lung research projects, and/or 2) the Junior League of Philadelphia's 2020-2021 Annual Fund, with checks addressed to "The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc., Annual Fund, in memory of Yvonne D'Amore," and should be mailed to 27 W. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003. In the end, Yvonne was not defeated by cancer; rather, it presented an opportunity for her to show us how to respond to such a foreboding development with determination, equanimity, and grace. Au revoir, our dear Yvonne.