Yvonne M (VanBuskirk) Wright-Belyea

Yvonne (Van Buskirk) Wright-Belyea, 86, previously of Hickory Rd., Marlborough CT, died Monday (November 5, 2018) at Countryside Healthcare, Milford, MA.  She was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, on October 6,th 1932, daughter of the late May M. (MacKenzie) Van Buskirk and the late Gordon Van Buskirk.  She is survived by her loving family: son, David Wright of Odell, New Brunswick, Canada; sister, Jean M. Goneau of Bellingham, MA; niece, Michelle J. Antinarelli of Upton, MA, nephews Randal M. Goneau of N. Attleboro, MA, and William L. (Skip) Goneau of Bristol, RI., and their families.   A child of the depression era, she distinguished herself academically earning honors, as a high school student in St. John, New Brunswick including:  the Governor General's Academic Silver Medal, the Parker Silver Medal, and the Corporation Gold Medal. As a scholarship student she graduated with honors from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a baccalaureate in biology. The majority of her career she served as a genetics and fertility counselor at Hartford Hospital where she supported clinical work and continued involvement with research that included publications in The Journal of Medical Genetics.   A midlife return to academia earned her a Master of Arts degree from St Joseph’s College in West Hartford, CT in 1978.  A frequent international traveler, she pursued hobbies as an amateur archaeologist, coin collector, painter, photographer, and family genealogist, documenting a lineage back to 17th century Scotland.  Having lost both grandfathers to World War I, she was motivated to serve as a dedicated member of the Auxiliary for the American Legion Post 197.  In her twilight years, she became reacquainted with and married her childhood sweetheart, the late Eugene Belyea of Halifax, Nova Scotia.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday (November 17) at 11am at the Spencer Funeral Home, 112 Main Street, East Hampton, CT, with the Rev. Bob Faulhaber Jr., Senior Pastor for the Marlborough Congregational Church, officiating.  Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Century Cemetery, Marlborough, CT.  There are no calling hours.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Resource Development, American Foundation for the Blind, 1401 S. Clark St., Ste. 730, Arlington, VA 22202.  To leave online condolences please visit www.spencerfuneralhomeinc.com.

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