Death of charity worker Yvonne

The partner of Aberdeen charity volunteer Yvonne Jeffery has paid tribute to the courage she showed during her 16-year struggle to overcome the effects of a devastating stroke.

Yvonne was left with limited speech and mobility after a stroke aged 42. She fought back to help out at a charity shop and care for homeless cats but died last month aged 58 following a second stroke.

Partner, Gordon Allan, said Yvonne was unresponsive between her stroke on the Friday evening and her death the following Wednesday. The only communication was a tear she shed just before she died.

“By that stage she was ‘locked in’. Yvonne could not open her eyes. I was there with her great friend Diane Prosser and she could not even squeeze our hands. It was heartbreaking after all she had been through. I believe the tear was her means of communication.”

Yvonne had spent 10 years as a volunteer at the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association shop in Aberdeen and was a longterm supporter of other charities.

She was born in Hammersmith Hospital, London, to parents Bill Jeffery and Ann Cruickshank, originally from Lumphanan.

When she was young her family took over a general store at Northchurch, Berkhamsted, near Watford, before moving to Lumphanan where they renovated a cottage.

Yvonne stayed in Aberdeen and worked in clerical jobs including at the DSS. At this time she met Diane, while working at Keyline. They became lifelong friends.

Gordon said: “At the age of 42 Yvonne had a massive stroke. She lost a lot of her speech and mobility.

“Life was a struggle. She had a mobility car but needed a walking aid to get into the shop.”

In 2017, Yvonne suffered a further setback. She needed a replacement heart valve and spent time in hospital in Aberdeen and Edinbugh.

“The operation was a success and Yvonne did bounce back,” said Gordon.

Diane said: “I met Yvonne long before her stroke.

“She showed courage and determination and huge strength to get to the stage of being able to work.”

COURAGEOUS: Yvonne Jeffery died following a stroke.