Rev. Mary Louise Yankee

Rev. Mary Louise Yankee, age 60, formerly of West Haven, passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer on June 24, 2021.  She was born in New Haven, the daughter of the late Conrad A. and Barbara McDonald Yankee.  Mary is survived by her daughters Aubrey (Joshua) Pierce of Plantsville, Alexis (Toby) Giangrande of Shelton, Athena Arrindell of New Hampshire, Brianna Rubino of Maine, and Michaela Rubino of East Haddam, her grandchildren Ronin, Alexander, and Thalia, her stepdaughter Taylor Proto, and her siblings Barbara (Warren) Mucha-Oko, Conrad (Cindy Westcott) Yankee all of Florida, Collin (Nancy) Yankee of Hamden, Christopher Yankee of North Carolina and Susan (Eric Dillner) Yankee of Madison. She was preceded in death by her stepson Nicholas Proto.

A West Haven, Connecticut native, Rev. Mary adored the ocean and spent a great deal of her life close to the shore.  She is a graduate of the West Haven class of 1979, and held close, lasting friendships with some of her fellow alumni. A warm and loving woman, Rev. Mary was passionate about guiding others in their own life journeys − working tirelessly to give advice, support, or even a shoulder to cry on for friends, family, and those in need.

Rev. Mary worked professionally as an intuitive/spiritual counselor for nearly 30 years. She studied for two years at The New Seminary in Manhattan, where she was ordained as an interfaith minister at St. John the Divine Cathedral. She has been a guest minister at the Albertson Memorial Spiritualist Church in Old Greenwich, Connecticut and was the Dean of First-Year Students at the International Seminary for Interfaith Studies in New York. Rev. Mary attended Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut majoring in Psychology and Sociology.

Rev. Mary moved to Chicago later in her life to connect with friends and continue working as a spiritual counselor and healer. She remained there until the late stages of her battle with cancer, and through the amazing kindness and donations of friends, family, and others, she came home to Connecticut to pass peacefully on the ocean, surrounded by loved ones.

The hours for visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the West Haven Funeral Home at the Green.  A spiritual celebration will be held on Thursday morning at the West Haven Green Gazebo at 10 a.m.  Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to: The Connecticut Hospice 100 Double Beach Rd. Branford, CT 06405.

“There is only one language, the language of the Heart. There is only one religion, the religion of Love.”

−             Sri Sathya Sai Baba ]

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rev. Mary Louise Yankee, please visit our floral store.