D'Alta Yvonne Yacoub

D’Alta Yvonne Yacoub (West), passed away unexpectedly on September 21, 2024, in Melbourne, FL. She was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on September 6, 1940. Yvonne led a fulfilling life serving God, her patients, and loved ones.

Born into a family of dairy farmers, Yvonne helped her parents work on the farm and care for her six siblings. Upon graduating from P.J. Jacobs High School (Steven Point, Wisconsin), she eagerly enrolled in the University of Wisconsin Hospital Nursing School (Madison, Wisconsin) where she graduated in 1960 with her Licensed Practical Nursing degree. After several moves around the country pursuing her passion, she landed in Palo Alto, California. At Standford University Hospital she furthered her nursing education starting her Registered Nursing degree in 1967. During this time, she devoted her life to God and converted to Greek Orthodoxy. In the same year, she found her soulmate in a dashing patient, Nazieh K. Yacoub, who was grateful for the compassion she showed him during his time in the hospital. On her birthday he surprised her with a party in the nurse’s lounge where she promptly scolded him for being out of bed; concerned only for the patient’s health, in true Yvonne fashion. In 1970, the two became engaged, packed up her apartment in 1971, and left Palo Alto for the beautiful Colorado Rockies. She placed her roots in Boulder, while the love of her life finished his degree. They were happily married on January 2, 1972, in a Russian Orthodox Church. In 1973, the lovebirds moved to St. Louis, Missouri where Nazieh taught and completed his PhD, then packed their bags again in 1976, settling in Satellite Beach, Florida. She immediately started working as a nurse at Cape Canaveral Hospital. Forever following her dreams, she finished her degree in 1980, becoming a Registered Nurse. During this year she gave birth to the couple’s beloved daughter, Natalie. Yvonne’s nursing career spanned the globe as a pioneering member of Cape Canaveral Hospitals first medical missions to Ecuador, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago assisting with pediatric surgeries. In 2014 it was time to say goodbye to her beloved career, focusing her expertise on the health of Nazieh. But she never truly stopped being a nurse. Never truly giving up her profession, she often offered her nursing skills to loved ones and friends in need of help after surgeries, during illnesses, or respite care. Nursing was in her DNA and apart of who she was. In 2016, she gleefully welcomed her only granddaughter, Isabell. Where she used her nursing nature to care daily for her new grandbaby.

She was an avid parishioner of St Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Melbourne, FL. Where she served in the Women’s Philanthropic Organization to help build the church and carefully tended the Grecian Odyssey dancers and their costumes for decades.

She will be dearly missed by all those who knew her and everyone will surely miss hearing “Can I get you anything” or “How can I help”. But she has been reunited with those that have preceded her in death, Nazieh Yacoub (Husband/Soulmate); Merrill and Irma West (Parents); Gale Lynn West (Brother); several brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews.

She is survived by Natalie Yacoub-Pugh (daughter); Ryan Pugh (son-in-law); Isabell Pugh (granddaughter); Marilyn and Jim Wegner (sister and brother-in-law); Cheryll West and Stan Kovach (sister and brother-in-law); Linda and Ron Olds (sister and brother-in-law); Carrie West and Mark Bias (brother and brother-in-law); Merridee West (sister); Makeen Yacoub (brother-in-law); Joanne West (sister-in-law); along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

A viewing will be held at Beckman and Williamson in Cocoa Beach, FL on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 5:00p – 7:00pm. Her funeral will be held at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church on

Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 11:00a with a reception to follow. She will be laid to rest next to her beloved, Nazieh, on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 11:00a in the Maine Cemetery in Plover, Wisconsin. In leu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse International Relief in support of Dr. Stephen Girgis.

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/medical/wmm-doctors/