Obituary: Yvonne 'Nana' Lyles, 69, Of New London

Written by Byles-MacDougall Funeral Service

NEW LONDON, CT — Yvonne “Nana” Lyles, 69, of New London, entered eternal rest surrounded by her family, June 16, 2018 at St. Raphael’s Hospital.

Born April 30, 1949, in Milton, MA, the daughter of late Walter and Hazel Crawford of Milton, MA. Together with the love of her life of 35 years, Bill Lyles, they brought together and built a loving family.

Five children: Renee (Paul) Williams, Debra (Travis) Huntington, Laura (Steve) Cushing, Bryan (Liene) Buckley and Regina (Michael) Cunningham. Her heart was filled with joy by her 13 grandchildren: Nicole (Mike), Brandon, Chelsea (Eric), Heather, Tiffany (Mike), Zachary (Samantha), Shelby Joy (Nathan), Trevor, Koby, Michael, Jacob, Seth, Emma and her five great grand-children: Isaac, Coralynn, Cameron, Myah Rose, and Mackenzie. She will be greatly missed by so many in her family including her brother Roger (Peg) Crawford, sister Shirley (Harry) Trask, sisters in-law Sandy (Ed) Seroskie and Patty Lyles, and former husband Bill (Darlene) Buckley. All her beloved “cousins”, nieces, nephews and so many lives she has touched along the way.

“Ma” will join her angels in heaven whom are there to greet her with open arms: Grammy and Grampy, MaMa and Papa, and brother in-law Paul Lyles.

Yvonne was a 1996 graduate of TRCC with an Associate’s degree in Hospitality Management. She recently retired from the Laborers Local 547 and worked at Pfizer and Millstone. She loved to volunteer and had been involved with many organizations that kept her busy.

A member of Navy Wives of America for over 40 years and as part of the New London Youth Football League. A lover of animals and life. A member of The Water’s Edge community, Nana and Papa spent their weekends camping on the lake.

Yvonne loved her family very much and enjoyed planning many events bringing them together creating a bond between them all. Sleepovers with the grandkids, socks hops, backyard bbqs, and movie nights, Thanksgivings and Christmas, creating memories that will be with us forever.

She loved to watch her grandchildren and their love of sports: cheerleading, football, wrestling and dance. Always their biggest fan. Whatever brought a smile to their face she was there in the stands supporting her children, grandchildren, and all the others that called her Cheer Nana.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday morning at 10 o’clock at St. James Episcopal Church, Corner of Huntington and Federal St, New London. Interment will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 at the Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be directed to the Navy Wives Club of America Scholarship Fund, PO Box 54022, Mid-South, Millington, TN 38054 or the New London Animal Control Shelter, Chester St., New London, CT 06320.

Photo credit: John Lumb/Shutterstock.com