August 15, 1936 – March 25, 2024 

Yvonne Mary Attonito (nee Kiedrowski) was a caring daughter, loyal sister, and loving mother. She was kind, always ready to help and do what she could to support her family and friends. She leaves a legacy that embodies resilience, education, engagement, and global travel. 

Yvonne was preceded in death by her parents, Bernadine Rose (nee Lince) and Edward Andrew Kiedrowski, Sr., and her brothers, Edward, Jr. (also Katherine,) and her twin, Neil. Her parents both grew up in the valleys of Trempealeau County and eventually settled in a home on Johnson Street in La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

Yvonne attended Aquinas High School and upon graduation in 1954, she left the area for business school in Nebraska. Soon after, she secured a civilian job with the US Navy and moved to Washington DC, where she and seven women shared a boarding house. 

Yvonne married Ralph Attonito on June 14,1958 and moved to New York City where they started their family. In 1966, they moved to South Milwaukee, Wisconsin and expanded their family with two more children: Christopher (Kelli), Diona, Lisa (H. Ercan Örnek), Allison, and Catherine (David Gillitzer). 

As a life-long learner, when her youngest child started kindergarten, Yvonne enrolled in one class at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee that launched an exploration in a range of subjects. She studied psychology, philosophy, logic, sociology, geography, nutrition, and much more. After divorcing in 1981, she focused on a degree, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1986. Yvonne worked as a public health nurse in her community for over 20 years. She was an advocate for youth, and often befriended the new mothers and elderly clients she served. 

Yvonne had a passion for learning and sharing that knowledge. She was a dedicated listener of NPR gaining global perspective, and an avid reader of the newspaper from which she regularly clipped relevant articles to share with her children, their friends, and others. Yvonne visited: Italy, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Spain and more! She felt fortunate to explore many of the places that piqued her interest. These experiences further cemented her belief in the need to be vigilant in a democracy. Yvonne continued serving her community throughout retirement, volunteering at the election polls.

Committed to home-cooking and quality time with family in the kitchen, Yvonne regularly made and taught many how to make granola. Additionally, she was known to modify recipes from time to time based on what she had in the pantry. Living independently in her single-family home, Yvonne enjoyed all seasons, especially summer, with perennial flowers and an annual vegetable garden.

In addition to her children and their spouses, Yvonne shared a special relationship with each of her nine grandchildren: Casey, Ryan, and Alyssa Attonito, Anthony and Michael Örnek, Isabel and Madeline Stang, and Nolan and Morgan Gillitzer. 

With heartfelt gratitude for Maria, Denise, and Aida, dedicated caregivers who supported Yvonne in her final months at home where she died peacefully.

A memorial gathering is planned for Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the Woman's Club of Wisconsin from 11:30 AM – 2 PM, with brief remarks at Noon. 

Memorial gifts made to the South Milwaukee Public Library and the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee are greatly appreciated.