Yolanda Garces

Yolanda Yepes Garces went on to a better place at the age of 88 years old on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at Cottage in the Meadow, Yakima, WA. She was born in Cali, Colombia to Paulina Garces and Arturo Yepes Bermudez now deceased. She is preceded in death by 3 brothers. As a young adult, she excelled in her academic skills and was called upon to teach the underprivileged children. Her ambition was to come to the United States where she could complete her secondary education and become an entrepreneur. She graduated from Pasadena City College and was accepted to UCLA, which by that time she was married and expecting twins. She chose to forego her education to raise her children. She later opened an Employment Agency as the first Latina women to do so in Los Angeles – at a time when there was no assistance for small business owners. She thrived in a business environment which she continued to develop ideas and open additional businesses until a stint with ovarian cancer forced her into early retirement at the age of 62. She is survived by her two daughters, Haddia Abbas Nazer and Laila Stephens as well as 3 sisters, Ana Milena, Haydee and Rosita and 3 brothers, Arturo, Jaime and Gustavo. Private burial will be at West Hills Memorial Park. A Memorial Mass will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 28, 2017 at Holy Family Chapel (5315 Teiton Dr., Yakima, WA). Refreshments will follow the service at Fr. Murtagh Gathering Hall. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Yolanda Garces, please visit our flower store.