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Henry Calam posted a condolence
Friday, June 2, 2023
Bob Phillips was my college roommate at Princeton University our Freshman year and has been my best friend ever since. He is like family to me. I knew Bob before Yoheris was born and can remember when he met his wife, Theresa, and Yoheris. He would regal me with stories and tales of them way before I had the honor of meeting them. They instantly became family also, and of course, Bobby too when he was born.
When I first was able to actually introduce Yoheris to my children I remember they all were so young and my three children Lisa, Hank, and Whitney were unable to pronounce her name. This is where we think the nickname Yo-Yo was born. Yo-yo was adored by all of us. She was so special: kind, nurturing, and was like a big sister to my children. Whenever there was an event, activity, trip, etc. Yo-Yo took on and she played the role of big sister to my children. My wife, Ann, and I would never worry and put our trust in Yo-Yo because we knew that our kids would always have fun and be safe.
One time we sent out two girls, Lisa and Whitney, to Venezuela where they met up with Yo-Yo in Miami for a connecting flight. It was a short flight and my daughters always regal me with the details of all the prayers and talk on the plane how they would all be alright and would make it safely. Times like this brought forth how much faith Yo-Yo had. It became even more apparent in the years to come and most specifically in the last few years. Myself and mostly Ann, for whom she had a fond attachment, have had some health issues. Yo-Yo was always the first to call, send a card, and of course adorn us with prayers. We knew that she prayed for us all the time, like we were her own family. Many times, when she visited our home she would bring little “gifts.” All of them, usually a little wooden representation of something from Venezuela, were always so thoughtful and had such meaning that we still have them displayed on our windowsill in the kitchen.
Yo-Yo also made it her mission to speak Spanish to us and try to teach us each time she was with us. We all picked up some, but we should have hired her as a full-time tutor! She loved teaching people and, as Bob said, she was very successful at it.
To sum it all up, Yo-Yo and her family are very dear to myself and my family. Although we are not blood relatives, we are family—we call them “Uncle”, “Aunt”, “cousins” whenever we refer to them. This is the way outsiders see them to us also.
Yo-Yo will deeply be missed, for there is nobody quite like her. Her passion for life, her thoughtfulness, her prayers, and her general kind nature were unmatched.
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Mirabel Sanchez posted a condolence
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Comments from the service for Yoheris Phillips on Sunday, May 21, 2023
BUENAS TARDES A TODOS LOS PRESENTES, LA PAZ EL AMOR Y LA BENDICION DE DIOS NOS ACOMPANE EN ESTE LUGAR.
DOY GRACIAS AL SENOR ROBERT PHILLIPS YA SU FAMILIA POR PERMITIRME PARTICIPAR EN DAR UN ORACION EN MEMORIA DE NUESTRA QUERIDA YOHERIS. PERO ANTES QUISIERA LEER ALGO QUE DEDIQUE EN SU MEMORIA, AL IGUAL QUE TODOS LOS QUE LA CONOCIMOS SABEMOS QUE ERA UNA MUJER DE MUCHA VIRTUDES ENTRE LAS CUALES ERA MUY CREYENTE Y DE UNA GRAN FE, MIS MEMORIAS. SOBRE ELLA SON MUCHAS, CADA VEZ QUE NOS ENCONTRABAMOS PARA IR A UNO DE LOS LUGARES QUE ERAN SU FAVORITO DE SU CASA AL SHOPPING CENTER WASHINGTON PLAZA O VICEVERSA DE WASHINGTON PLAZA A SU CASA.
EN ESE CORTO TRAYECTO SIEMPRE HABLABAMOS SOBRE LA BIBLIA Y DE LAS HISTORIA QUE HAY EN ELLA, ORABAMOS YA VEGES COMPARTIA ALGUNA ANGUSTIA FAMILIAR Y ORABAMOS POR ELLO JUNTAS, SU AMOR Y PREOCUPACION POR OTROS ERA UNA DE SUS VIRTUDES, MUCHOS DE LO QUE ESTAN AQUI PUDIERAN DECIR MUCHAS COSAS DE ELLA PORQUE NOSOTROS COMO SERES HUMANOS INTERRELACIONAMOS CON OTROS DE DIFERENTES MANERAS PERO EN NOMBRE DE TODOS LA QUE LA CONOCIMOS EXPRESAMOS A USTED SENOR ROBERT, A SU HERMANO, CUNADA SOBRINOS Y FAMILIARES QUE SU EJEMPLO DE BONDAD HONESTIDAD Y AMOROSA DE LAS PERSONAS SIEMPRE VIVIRA EN NUESTRO CORAZON Y QUE SENTIMOS SU PARTIDA INESPERADA.
PERO LA PALABRA DE D1OS DICE EN:
JUAN 11-25
EL QUE CREE EN Ml AUNQUE ESTE MUERTO VIVIRA
Y YOHERIS TIENE LA ESPERANZA Y LA PROMESA COMO TODO LOS QUE CREEMOS EN CRISTO QUE VIVIRA ETERNAMENTE CUANDO NUESTRO DIOS VENGA ENTRE LAS NUBES CON SUS ANGELES Y SUS SANTOS CON PODER AHI ELLA SE LEVANTARA Y LA
ABRAZAREMOS YA TODOS LOS QUE HAN PARTIDO JUNTO CON ELLA.
AMEN
QUERIDOS FAMILIARES Y AMIGOS CERREMOS NUESTROS OJOS Y OREMOS
EN EL NOMBRE DEL PADRE DEL HIJO Y DEL ESPIRITUD SANTO
SENOR SOLO TU ERES EL DUENO DE LA VIDA. NOS CONCEDES LA GRACIA DE NAGER SIEMPRE CON UN PROPOSITO Y DEL MISMO MODO NOS LLAMAS A TU REINO DE LUZ CUANDO CONSIDERAS QUE NUESTRA MISION EN LA TIERRA YA ESTA CUMPLIDA NO ANTES NI DESPUES.
PADRE CELESTIAL CONCEDELE EL DESCANSO EN EL PARAISO DEL ALMA DE NUESTRA QUERIDA YOHERIS QUIEN YA ABANDONO ESTE PLANO TERRENAL Y HA EMPRENDIDO UN VIAJE A UN MEJOR LUGAR.
TU QUE ERES UN DIOS DE AMOR Y DE PERDON, TE ROGAMOS SOARES LA FALTAS QUE PUDO HABER COMETIDO Y CONCEDELE LA GRACIA DE LA VIDA ETERNA, TE PIDO Ml BUEN SENOR POR AQUELLOS QUE COMO YO LLORAMOS LA PARTIDA DE ESTE SER QUERIDO. A ELLOS YA Ml ABRAZANOS CON TU AMOR INFINITO Y DANOS LA FUERZA Y LA SABIDURIA PARA MANTENER LA CALMA EN ESTOS DIFICILES MOMENTOS, Y PARA COMPRENDER QUE LA MEJOR MANERA DE HONRAR A QUIEN YA HA PARTIDO ES RECORDARLA CON AMORY COMO LA MUJER LEAL QUE SIEMPRE FUE PARA QUE PODAMOS REPONERNOS DE LA TRISTEZA Y CONTINUEMOS ADELANTE CON TU COMPANIA HACIENDO TU SANTA VOLUNTAD QUES BUENA AGRADABLE Y PERFECTA SENOR.
DESCANSA EN PAZ NUESTRA QUERIDA YOHERIS SIEMPRE TE LLEVAREMOS EN NUESTROS CORAZONES, NUNCA TE OLVIDAREMOS.
ORACION EN ESPANOL EN MEMORIA DE YOHERIS
ESCLESIASTE CAPITO 3; 1-4
TODO TIENE SU TIEMPO
1. EN ESTE MUNDO TODO TIENE SU HORA; HAY UN MOMENTO PARA TODO CUANTO OCURRE.
2. UN MOMENTO PARA NAGER
Y MOMENTO PARA MORIA
UN MOMENTO PARA PLANTAR, Y UN MOMENTO PARA ARRANCAR LO PLANTADO
3. UN MOMENTO PARA MATAR Y UN MOMENTO PARA CURAR,
UN MOMENTO PARA DESTRUIR Y UN MOMENTO PARA CONSTRUIR
4 UN MOMENTO PARA LLORAR,
Y UN MOMENTO PARA REIR,
UN MOMENTO PARA ESTAR DE LUTO.
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Holly Seymour posted a condolence
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
I met Yoheris when we were attending Manhattanville College. Our friendship would last 42
years. Yoheris was the friend who was intelligent, inquisitive, and always witty. We took many political and science courses together. Often she would know more than some of the professors. She was never shy to ask a question and to look for the meaning behind a new concept. Yoheris was kind to other students and often helped with free tutoring. Later on, this skill would prove to be important as she developed a tutoring and translation business.
I spent a beautiful vacation as her (family’s) guest in Caracas, Venezuela. They were kind and welcoming and Yoheris was a knowledgeable guide. It was a memorable experience. We went to historic sites, explored natural shorelines and enjoyed lots of shopping! We danced our hearts out at the local clubs. One night, as we crossed a plaza, we joined an outdoor flamenco lesson in progress and no one was the wiser.
I remember that her cousin took us to the beach one day. We were really looking forward to it. We ended up going to 5 beaches as the first 4 we arrived at had flaws. The first one we went to had a cigarette butt in the sand and that just wouldn’t do. We packed up our gear and headed out to another site. The next one was too far from the parking lot. We kept unloading and reloading our beach essentials. We were laughing as these beaches were beautiful and we would have been happy with any but.... we decided to go along with the quest. About 2 hours later, her cousin found one that passed muster and it was truly gorgeous. I don't think Yoyo ever let him live it down. We laughed about this recently.
When Yoheris moved back to the states, she remained close with my family who lived nearby. Anytime that I spoke with her, she asked about everyone. Yo was that kind of friend, someone who was genuinely caring and interested in the welfare of others. She had incredible faith and strong connection to God. Yoheris brought joy, happiness, and love to all she met and because of that we will remember her always.
I will miss Yoyo dearly.
I am fortunate to have called her my friend.
W
Walter & Valeria Sarmiento posted a condolence
Saturday, May 27, 2023
Comments from the service for Yoheris Phillips on Sunday, May 21, 2023.
Hello my name is Valeria, and I will be representing a group of Christian friends Yoheri’s had for 20+ years whom she met while attending a church in Darien and also my family’s home-Bible study.
More specifically, I’ll be sharing the words of my father, Walter Sarmiento, who couldn’t be here today due to travels abroad with family.
The words of my father:
It is not easy to speak about a person who planted such abundant love in this world. A world full of toil, commitments, and responsibilities where it became difficult to pick up a single phone call from someone who simply wanted to bless us.
Yoheris, “La Tia Yo-Yo” meaning “Aunt Yo-Yo” – was the way she referred to herself when calling my family. She’d mentioned often this was the way her beloved nephews referred to her.
When responding to her calls…or listening to her audio messages… I could feel the manifestation of God’s love through a human for me and my family.
-She never spoke with complaints, or with worry about her day-to-day.
-Though she missed her mother, La Señora Theresa, she never spoke about the void with pain.
All you could find in Yoheris… were words of
1)gratitude for a new day God had given her
2) joy when she’d mention she lived with her father
3)happiness when depicting all her nephews have and continue to accomplish academically and professionally, and most importantly
4) words of love and gratitude when she spoke about her brother, Bobby.
Yoheris, always had a small gift to give away, whether it was a candle, a prayer book, a Bible, and the list goes on.
She’d call me and say, “I have something I bought for Patricia and Valeria.”
She always had something to give with joy… whether it was literally something she had packed in a gift bag or her endearing hugs.
And I am not sure how many small gifts she had left in her room to give to us all here
but I AM SURE OF SOMETHING… That she did give it all…
*She gave to us…. through an unexpected phone call… every week… the love and kindness God gives to us!!!
***She taught my entire family, that THERE IS TIME FOR A CALL. That you can love others despite their many occupations and the business of life.
*I am pretty sure one of the last things she must have done… was buy a small gift to give away!
------------------------------------------------
So what did she teach my family and me:
1. That you can call, pray, and love all those around you.
2. That we have to halt and have a stop in our day-to-day and respond to a phone call with love.
In the Bible, Isaiah 57:2 says “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.”
*This verse is clear, easy to understand: Obeying God, will give us the assurance, confidence, peace, and rest in His presence.
With gratitude,
Walter Sarmiento
So those were the words of my father, but I can say “AMEN” and I agree.
Yoheris, taught me what pure/genuine love means and looks like for God and then from that overflow, the love and genuine compassion I am called to give to others.
Yoheris will always be in my family’s hearts.
** I look with joy and anticipation to the day that I’ll reunite with her in the presence of my Savior Jesus Christ.
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Pam Leblanc posted a condolence
Friday, May 26, 2023
Comments from the service for Yoheris Phillips on Sunday, May 21, 2023
I was in Venezuela vacationing with my college girlfriend, and as part of our vacation we were going to drive the 5 hours from Caraballeda (where Robert and family had a beach house) to Puerto La Cruz and stay in a very nice resort there for a few days.
Yo-Yo, being the great host that she was, agreed to come with us. However, I was going to be responsible for making the 5 hour drive in Robert’s car, including driving through some small towns with some challenging roads.
Unfortunately, a couple of hours into our journey, I hit a pothole causing some damage to the underside of the car and the car had to be serviced. We scrambled around trying to find someone to fix it, but didn’t have any luck.
So after calling Robert, we agreed to park the car in a safe lot and jumped into the ricketiest taxi you have ever seen and hoped that the driver could take us the final 3 hours. I can still remember Yo-Yo confirming with the driver in Spanish that his car was going to make it there. I mean this car literally had duct tape holding parts of it together.
Yo-Yo was a bit terrified, but once we got going, it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. We laughed the whole way there as this funky little taxi navigated the curvy journey with no shocks as we bounced around until we finally made it. I remember us being embarrassed to pull up to this nice resort in this junky little taxi.
Of course, we had a great time once we got to Puerto La Cruz with Yo-Yo being the generous person and host that the whole time!
R
Robert Phillips posted a condolence
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Will miss you dearly sister!
Love always
Bobby
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Diane Holtz uploaded photo(s)
Monday, May 22, 2023
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The park where we always chatted with her. The dogs she talked to and gave lots of pets. Maddie, Captain Jack, and Sir Lewis.
In heaven she must be greeted by her mother and a bunch of dogs!
Bless her memory.
K
Kathleen McCormick uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, May 21, 2023
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Yoyo and Kathy McCormick after dancing in the kitchen.
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Kathy McCormick posted a condolence
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Comments from the service for Yoheris Phillips on Sunday, May 21, 2023.
Yoheris Phillips was a generous and loving friend, and such a positive woman, with something kind to say to everyone.
Which is not to suggest that she didn’t have strong opinions. When I started sketching out my comments for today on my laptop, Microsoft Word suddenly froze.
I’m a writer and write most every day and, in my experience, it’s very unusual for Word to freeze. Of course, I’d saved as I typed, so I thought it was just a minor inconvenience.
But when I shut down and reopened Word, Yoyo’s document was blank.
I took this as a clear sign that she wasn’t wild about what I was writing, all maudlin and grief stricken.
So, honoring what I believe to be Yoyo’s wishes, I started over, feeling the spirit I think she wanted me to embody.
"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises."
I’m so grateful to have had Yoyo in my life for about seven years since we became neighbors and then friends.
She was uplifting to be with:
• rejoicing in her family and friends,
• delighting in how well her family members, particularly her nephews, were doing.
• She was devoted to and missed her mother, Terisita, every day.
• She was proud of her father, Robert, and told me so many stories of how he was able to bring the family back and forth between Venezuela and the US when she was young, of how strong he has always been.
But perhaps most, Yoyo took pleasure and hope in her belief in the presence of a God who is all around us. She loved the psalms and was forever giving me a little booklet or a folder with special xeroxes of inspirational verses. I’m interweaving some lines from Psalm 98 into my words today.
There was never a time we were together that Yoyo didn’t suddenly stop us to pray for her family and friends and for mine. In these prayers, she expressed
gratitude to God for those who were doing well and beseeched him to help those with troubles.
She’d ask God to grant the people being prayed for
• “the desires of their hearts,”
• and to give them strength, “mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.”
"Sing to the Lord with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm."
Yoyo was particularly attentive in her prayers to Gary's and my niece in New Zealand who was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago at 45. Yoyo remembered her and prayed for her daily. She followed the stages of Katherine’s treatment. And today, cancer-free, Katherine is praying in New Zealand for the repose of Yoyo’s soul and sending sympathy to her family and friends.
"With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King."
I can hear Yoyo repeating a line she said so often: “We only have one life; let us live it with joy and friendship.”
In honoring Yoyo’s memory, let us follow this advice and live with more joy and with richer, deeper friendships.
"Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell in it."
When Robert went to Florida for a few weeks in the early spring, Yoyo and I got together a little more often.
After she admired a scarf I’d crocheted for myself, I asked her if she’d like me to teach her to crochet. She politely declined, saying, “No, but I’d be happy to watch you crochet.” I got the message. That was the same Yoyo who erased what I’d written on my computer a few days ago.
There is one final image of Yoyo that I cherish the most. We were both complaining about the weight we were gaining and vowed to do more exercise. But what should it be? After a few minutes, we decided on dancing.
So up to the kitchen we went. Yoyo called to Alexa to play one song after another.
And man, that woman got down and boogied. She transformed into another version of herself: fleet footed, fast-moving, and rhythmical. Bopping her head, shaking her shoulders (and her tambourine), striding across that kitchen floor, she was in her element.
Dear Yoyo, we miss you so much. But I know now that you don’t want us to be sad when we are honoring you. You want us to delight in our good memories, to dance in the kitchen, and to not miss a beat.
We love you Yoyo and are so grateful that you were and always will be a part of our lives.
"Let the rivers clap their hands;
Let the hills be joyful together."
And so let us be.
K
Kathleen McCormick posted a condolence
Sunday, May 21, 2023
There is one image of Yoyo that I cherish the most. We were both complaining about the weight we were gaining and vowed to do more exercise. But what should it be? After a few minutes, we decided on dancing.
So up to the kitchen we went. Yoyo called to Alexa to play one song after another. And man, that woman got down and boogied. She transformed into another version of herself: fleet footed, fast-moving, and rhythmical. Bopping her head, shaking her shoulders (and her tambourine), striding across that kitchen floor, she was in her element.
Dear Yoyo, I miss you so much. But I know you don’t want us to be sad when we are remembering you. You want us to delight in our good memories, to dance in the kitchen, and to not miss a beat. I love you Yoyo and am so grateful that you were and always will be a part of my life.
T
Terry Tracy posted a condolence
Sunday, May 21, 2023
YoYo was the sweetest neighbor anyone could ask for. She was the first one to greet me every morning with a cheery hello. I will think of her every time I pass our picnic table where she would sit , pray and chat on her phone . A wonderful person with a big smile and a bigger heart. YoYo we will truly miss you. God Bless!
Terry and Mary Tracy
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anthony` Corradina posted a condolence
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Q: What will you miss most about Yoheris?
A: she was a kind and loving person.
who loved and talked of a family often. I will miss our talks and rides and our Senior Bus!
J
Janet and Tim Byrne posted a condolence
Sunday, May 21, 2023
YoYo sat in "her spot" - at the bottom of her steps - every day. There she greeted each neighbor and dog-always with a friendly hello and always ending with "God bless you". She knew the name of each of our grandchildren and always talked with them as they went by her spot. YoYo loved talking about her 2 nephews - how proud she was of them and how quickly they were growing up. We will miss you YoYo and will think of you every time we walk past "your spot". God Bless You.
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Ayse Demirag and Tony Ruvolo planted a tree in memory of Yoheris Phillips
Saturday, May 20, 2023
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Amy Goldberg posted a condolence
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Yoyo lived across the street from us on Brookridge Ct. We first met Yoyo while walking our dog. And we soon learned she always had a kind word for everyone. She will be forever remembered for her sweetness and her love of animals. We are better for having known her.
Amy and Jon Goldberg
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Carol Bullock posted a condolence
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Yoyo was our neighbor at Brookridge Court. She was the most outgoing, warm and welcoming individual who always went out of her way to greet her neighbors with a warm greeting whenever she saw us. She will be missed she was an angel when she was on earth and we are sure she is with the angels now.
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Maribel Sanchez uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, May 20, 2023
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Q: What was one of your favorite qualities of Yoheris?
A: Leal , Amorosa y fiel a todos aquellos que la conocieron y compartieron su amistad .
Descansa en Paz Amiga
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Karen Kimball posted a condolence
Friday, May 19, 2023
My sweet beautiful friend, prayer partner and sister in the Lord, I miss you already. You are in the awesome presence of Jesus our loving Savior. I look forward to our reunion, but until then my heart is aching.
C
Carla and Ed planted a tree in memory of Yoheris Phillips
Friday, May 19, 2023
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A Memorial Tree was planted for Yoheris Phillips
Friday, May 19, 2023
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The family of Yoheris Phillips uploaded a photo
Friday, May 19, 2023
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We are dedicated to serving you and your family for all of your funeral needs. Our staff strives to gently guide you through the decisions necessary for making your loved one’s funeral a personal tribute.
Location
1036 Boston Post Rd.
Rye, New York
10580
Phone: (914) 967-0129
Fax: (914) 967-7202