Yvonne Trettel

Yvonne Trettel, age 84, after a life well lived, passed to The Lord on November 3, 2016 at the Cleveland Clinic. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, mentor, and friend.

She was born Gladys Yvonne Galli on September 11, 1932, daughter of the late Angelo and Catherine Galli; she was a first generation Italian American. Born in Belle Vernon, PA, she grew up in Creighton, Pennsylvania. A graduate of East Deer High, she moved on to earn a Home Economics Degree from Indiana State Teachers College of Pennsylvania, and obtained a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Mercyhurst University. Yvonne continued her passion for family education with teaching roles at Alliquippa High School and Plum Borough High School in Pennsylvania. Seeking to encourage family cohesion, she created a Rural Family Life Program for Families in the Appalachian Mountain Area, and this effort was supported by Ohio University. She also used her skills to write a Home Economics Curriculum for the Erie, Pennsylvania School District. Her most rewarding teaching experiences involved teaching special education students; she said her fundamental teaching approach was to begin with love.

While education was her passion, she also was a smart business person and served a support role in the founding partnership of Presque Isle Capital Management. She also was active in the community, and especially with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) where she acted in various executive positions and very proud to have served as President of the Erie Branch of AAUW. She was named the Women’s Center Woman of the Year in 1982.

Yvonne/Mom was an incredibly creative, intelligent woman and an accomplished seamstress and cook. First and foremost a loving and understanding mother, applying her skills as a home economist at home, a role in which she took great pride. Of all her accomplishments Mom was most proud of raising and nurturing a strong family and being a loving role model. She was accepting of all and fond of reminding us "remember, nobody's perfect," and “everyone needs family.”

She enjoyed music, theatre, antiques and European travel and made numerous trips with her husband and close friends exploring the continent, with a special affinity for her ancestral home of Italy.

Survived by her husband of 61 years, John; her siblings Shirley Galli, Louis Galli, Robert (Honore) Galli; five children, Michael, Roger (Sandra), David, Kristan (Mark) Mosley, and Andrea (John) Yochim; and nine grandchildren, Julia, Jessica, Lily, Eva, Zora, Angelo, Jack, Scarlet, and baby Frances, and great granddaughter Aria.

Living and working in 10 communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin, she always was quick to say Erie, PA is the best place to call home. Mom will be very much missed by all who knew and loved her.

Friends are invited to call on the family at Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. 602 W. 10th St. on Monday from 2pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm. Funeral Services will be private. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.