Yvonne Rae Blakeslee

The journey through life came to a close for Ms. Yvonne Rae Blakeslee, 80, on Sunday, December 21, 2025. 

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Tuesday, December 23rd. from 11:00AM – 12:00Noon, followed by a prayer service.  We will then assemble the traditional funeral procession to Rosedale Cemetery in Linden, where the U.S. Navy will conduct the Military Honors Detail, followed by the prayers of committal, both of which will precede Yvonne’s burial in her family plot.   

Yvonne, a true “Jersey Girl” and the daughter of Blanche E. Jeffers Blakeslee and Raymond A. Blakeslee, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and she resided in Long Valley, for eighteen years before settling in Lincoln Park a year ago.

Yvonne was known as the “lunch lady” employed by SDH Services, LLC in Long Valley, a food service provider, for seventeen years prior to her well-deserved retirement in June of 2024.

Yvonne had so many interesting chapters in her life.  She served in the U.S. Navy during the Viet Nam War Era, specializing in Aviation Administration.  Yvonne was an avid and outstanding baker, owning her own shop for six years, as well as being the head pastry chef at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster for ten years.  In her free time, she enjoyed sewing, watching the show “Blue Bloods” and playing the bells at the Trinity Methodist Church in Hackettstown.  However, even with all these activities, Yvonne’s heart and soul was guided by her love for her daughter, Jenny and her family.  There was nothing in life that gave her greater joy than spending any moment with them.  Yvonne was a “Mom” before anything else!

She was predeceased by her parents, Blanche E. Jeffers Blakeslee and Raymond A. Blakeslee; her sister, Michelle “Mickey” Elkins; her son-in-law, Michael E. Porter, Jr. and her grandson, David N. Porter.

Yvonne is survived by her daughter, Jennifer L. Porter; her grandchildren, Cassandra L. Fredericks, Alexis M. Bandurski, Michael W. Porter and Miranda J. Porter and Yvonne’s many neighbors and friends over the years. 

Yvonne was a beacon of light for her family that has now been dimmed even as her love and her legacy will live on and grow with the values that she instilled in her loved ones.  Hearts are broken and eyes are filled with tears with the loss of their beloved Yvonne.  She will be deeply missed, but Yvonne will never be forgotten.  May Yvonne have Eternal Rest.

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