1929 – 2013

YARMOUTH — Yvette P. Byrus, formerly of Camden, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 26.

On Oct. 28, 1929 — her father’s birthday — Yvonne Yvette Pelletier was born in Auburn. She was the sixth of seven children born to John and Lucy (LaBelle) Pelletier. The stock market promptly crashed.

Yvette, as she was called,  graduated from Edward Little High School in 1947 and entered training at St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston to become a laboratory technician. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Joseph F. Byrus Jr., while roller skating. After completing her training, she worked at a small hospital in Skowhegan. They eloped and were married on Christmas Eve 1949.

In 1957, the couple purchased an old farmhouse in Durham. Her son started school that fall, so Yvette accepted a temporary job as a bookkeeper at the Lisbon Falls branch of Depositors Trust. Through hard work, determination and taking many banking courses, she rose through the ranks. In 1971, she was promoted to branch manager and had what is believed to be the first all-woman bank branch in New England.

In 1977, she accepted a transfer to manage the bank’s Camden office. Depositors Trust eventually became Key Bank and she retired from there with the title of assistant vice president — so much for a temporary job. Being one to keep busy, Yvette began yet another career and became the first business manager of the Camden Yacht Club and remained in that position until her final retirement in 1997.

Among her many interests were skiing, sailing on her son’s boat, sewing and knitting. She would often knit mittens for needy children, producing as many as 50 pairs per year. Yvette would “babysit” other peoples’ cats and dogs in her home. Most of these animals enjoyed their stay with “Grandma” so much that they were reluctant to leave when their owners came to retrieve them.

Yvette was also a rather accomplished watercolor artist and often exhibited her works at various venues.

She is survived by her loving son, Stephen J. Byrus of Auburn, N.H., a foster daughter, Linda Hoffman Grant and her husband, Lawrence, of Carmel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by husband; her parents; and her six siblings.