Dear Deb,
I can't believe I'm writing this post. We just spoke last week, this is all so surreal. We are all devastated, especially Julia. I am so happy to have known you over the last 23 years. You have worn so many hats: wife, mother, mother-in-law, cat mama, quilt master, botanist and I think your favorite role, Grammie.
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Deborah Marie Korte was born in Franklin, North Carolina on February 17, 1953. She was the oldest of two sisters. She graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Nursing and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. Never a fan of the cold, Deb moved to Tampa, Florida upon graduation and loved the hot weather. While working as a nurse at Tampa General, she met a young orthopedic surgeon, Robert Yamokoski. After a few months they got engaged and then eloped. Deb wanted a small wedding (and had everything planned out) but Bob did not. They bought a house on Davis Island and when she found out she was pregnant with her first child, Deb retired from nursing to prepare for motherhood. Her first child, John Daniel (JD) was born in April 1978, with Greg following in Nov 1980. In 1980 they moved from their small house on Davis Island to south Tampa. Chad was born in March 1983 and a surprise pregnancy resulted in Katherine, July 1984. Fun fact-Deb and Bob were certain that baby #4 was a boy. Bob was rendered speechless when the baby came out and it was a girl! They had not even thought of girl names.
Deb's role while the kids were growing up was that of super mom. PTA, booster clubs and shuffling kids around to various sports practices and games all around Tampa. She helped out in Bob's office sometimes too. She also quilted and maintained a pretty amazing green house and garden in the backyard. While the kids were little, the family vacationed in Marathon Key and Cedar Key.
Bob passed away from stomach cancer in Feb 2002. After this, Deb became very active with sewing/quilting guilds around the Tampa area. She met a huge group of friends and traveled extensively throughout the US for the reminder of her life. She went to quilt shows, retreats and fun girls trip. She had a more active social life than anyone else I know! Deb also loved to read her Kindle every night, walked several miles every morning with a friend, was in a bible study with her neighborhood. She was always a huge cat lover (special thanks to Nicole for taking her fur baby, Lily) and her guilty pleasure was reality TV.
Deb and I first met when JD and I started dating in 2001. First impressions: she was very quiet and petite. JD and I got engaged in July 2004 and she helped plan a surprise engagement party at her house. My dad even surprised me by coming in town. She was so gracious to host and so happy for us. JD and I got married in December 2005. We semi-eloped with only 4 guests and had a family brunch the next morning with Deb, Katherine, Greg and Chad. By this time, JD and I were both in grad school at University of Florida in Gainesville and traveled to Tampa quite often to visit with his family. In May 2006, our black lab Amelia Peabody joined our family and Deb officially became a 'dog-grandma.' Deb is not a dog person but she welcomed Amelia with open arms and even sewed clothes for her, including an awesome purple witch costume for her first Halloween!
On Christmas morning, December 2007, Deb opened a picture frame letting her know that "Baby Yamo" was coming August 2008. I don't think I have ever seen her so excited. We traveled to upstate NY together for my baby shower and I loved showing her where I grew up. When I went into labor with Julia, Deb was at the hospital by 7am. Julia was not born until 10pm and Deb sat in the waiting room the whole time waiting for her granddaughter. She stayed at our house for several days helping with the dogs as well. JD, Julia and I went to Tampa frequently until we moved to Houston in January 2010. Julia actually stayed with Deb and Chad for a few days while I drove out and they had fun at the zoo and beach.
Over the next several years, Deb became 'Grammie' and her garden grew: Julia (2008), Luke (2010), Leah (2011), Claire (2012), Grayson (2014), Jillian (2016) and Annabelle (2022). Greg, Nicole and Leah lived with Deb for several years before they bought their own house, allowing Leah and Deb to develop a really special bond. Chad, Michelle and Annabelle also lived very close to Deb and Deb watched Annabelle a few times a week, which I know was a huge source of joy to her. Deb loved the babies!
Deb and I had a long conversation last week. She was planning to declutter the house to move closer to Greg and Nicole. She raved about how smart Leah is and how well she is doing in school. She talked about Katherine loving her job as a teacher and how excited Claire was for an upcoming sleepover. Grayson is doing well in school. She congratulated Julia on her swimming accomplishments as well as Luke's robotics and then told me how much she couldn't wait to see her little blonde spitfire, Jillian (she thought Jillian was hilarious and loved how vibrant she was). Deb also talked about watching Annabelle and how active she was getting.
May you forever be in peace Deb, we love you.
Deborah Marie Korte Yamokoski
February 17, 1953 - November 14, 2023
Love forever,
Christine, JD, Julia, Luke & Jillian
Post Wedding Brunch
Deb becomes a Dog-Grandma & made this Halloween outfit!
Finally holding Julia after sitting in the hospital waiting room for 15H
Deb meets baby Luke for the first time
Family vacation at Cedar Key
Grammie teaches the kids to sew
Grammie meets Jillian for the first time
We love you Grammie!
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