Yvonne Hamlin

Her eleven grandchildren and five great grands lovingly called her Grandmama. To her four children, she was Mother, not Mom. And although her late husband, Richard M. (Dick) Hamlin, Sr. called her Yvonne, he would just as frequently refer to her as his "Dolly" and beautiful bride.

Yvonne Diana Franz Hamlin passed away peacefully on December 30, 2023, at her home in Akron, surrounded by her family. Born on January 25, 1928 to the late Philip J. and Florence McKenna Franz, Yvonne was a resident of Akron, OH and Naples, FL. She attended Fairlawn School and was a graduate of Our Lady of the Elms High School. She then studied at Tufts University and The University of Akron before graduating from Boston University with a degree in Education.

Always gracious, always considerate, Yvonne was resolute in guiding her family in being well-mannered and appreciating the importance of courtesy toward others. She possessed an ardent interest in proper English grammar, taught ESL at St. Bernard's and in her early career, third grade at Leggett School. Despite being teased by her children about her zealous dedication to these qualities, she stood firm in her convictions. She could laugh at herself, but no one thought Yvonne anything but a composed, dignified, elegant gentlewoman, as was reflected by her ever present white gloves. Her warm and frequent handwritten letters, notes and cards to her children, grandchildren, extended family members and many dear friends will be forever cherished by all who received them.

Yvonne was passionate about anything Anglophile or Irish, her family, Early American architecture, her faith in God, the beauty in blooming trees, plants and flowers around her and, unquenchably for reading. She enjoyed and was a member of The Garden Club of Akron, The Diggers and Weeders Garden Club, and she and Dick were members of the First Friday Club that had been together for more than 60 years. However, it was perhaps the company of those dear friends in her bridge group who had given up bridge decades ago to enjoy a monthly luncheon together, that Yvonne spoke of often with the most delight.

Over the decades Yvonne volunteered for numerous projects through the Junior League of Akron; and, her knowledge of architecture made Yvonne a natural to serve as a docent at Stan Hywet Hall. For her many years of continued support of her alma mater, Mrs. Hamlin was honored by Our Lady of the Elms with the dedication of a garden in her name. She and Mr. Hamlin were similarly recognized by John Carroll University which named the Hamlin Dormitory and Hamlin Quadrangle in their honor. More recently Yvonne and Dick were acknowledged by Summa Hospital as benefactors of the Summa Center of Excellence by its renaming of the Richard and Yvonne Hamlin Pavilion which contains a hybrid operating suite, similarly entitled.

Yvonne was the lifelong constant encouraging support and loving wife to her husband of 69 years, Richard Mark Hamlin, Sr., who preceded her in death. She was the much adored Mother to Mary Beth (Jim) Shannon, R. Mark (Elizabeth) Hamlin Jr., Diana McKenna (Missy) Hamlin O'Neill and Tracy (Justin) Nolan, and "Grandmama" to Caroline McKenna Finke, Hollis Alexander Hamlin Finke, Richard M. (Margie) Hamlin, III, Faith Elizabeth Hamlin, T. Emmet O'Neill, IV, Martha (Michael) McKenna O'Neill Wassel, Mary McDermott "Molly" O'Neill, Suzanne (Patrick) McKenna Nolan Sykes, Justin Timothy (Venezia) Nolan, Jr., Michael Patrick Nolan, and Catherine Herlihy Nolan, and Great Grandmother to Iris Willamae Hamlin, Catherine Celeste Sykes, Patrick Richard Sykes, Jr., John Timothy Sykes and Halley McKenna Nolan, all of whom survive her.

In addition to her parents who preceded her in death, Yvonne had an especially strong love, respect and affection for her late brother, Philip Fulton Franz, her sister-in-law Debbie and their three children Margaret, Philip, "Fritz" (Chrissy) and George (Beth) Franz. Yvonne was preceded in death by her dearly missed late sisters-and brothers-in-law, Rita Jane Hamlin and Jack Schmidt, Earl William Jr. and Kate Hamlin and Jerome Barry Hamlin whose wife, Nancy survives Yvonne and by numerous nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 7p.m. on Saturday, January 6th at St. Sebastian Church. The family will receive friends beforehand from 6p.m. to 7p.m at the church. A private interment will take place for the family only on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Palliative Care Unit of Summa Health in Akron, OH or The St. Sebastian Parish Foundation.