Yvonne G. Messerschmidt

Yvonne Grace Higgins Messerschmidt passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on August 1 ^st , 2021, in her home in Oak Brook, Illinois following the death of her husband Roy Herrman Messerschmidt in May of 2020. They were married for 73 years.

She is survived by her children, Mara Morris (late Donald Morris), Stephen Messerschmidt (late Jeanine Ziegler Messerschmidt), and Dionne Castillo, (Antonio Castillo). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Lauren Morris (Rob Hunger), Alexandra Castillo, and Jacqueline Smith (Gabriel Smith) and great grandchildren, Evan, and Ayden Castillo.

After her children left home, she channeled all her creative energy into various venues and adventures in fashion. Being a model herself, her favorite was the Wendy Ward Program at Montgomery Wards.  She taught young girls and women how to model and the art of etiquette and demeanor of the times.  After that time passed, Yvonne became the manager of a local boutique in Park Forest following her dream to be involved in clothing, accessories, and fashion shows.

Yvonne had a long career in the arts and media.  She loved acting and appeared in several plays, movies, and print media as well. She and her husband thoroughly enjoyed being extras in Chicago productions, and she appeared in Sixteen Candles which she thoroughly enjoyed.  As with most productions, her stellar performances were left on the cutting room floor.  She was so excited to have her children attend a production of My Fair Lady in which she was cast in the chorus and was able to sing all her favorite songs.  Her proudest achievement was when she was cast in a movie, Against All Hope, with the up-and-coming Michael Madsen playing the wicked stepmother of Michael and wearing spectacular clothes right from her closet including one of her favorite hats.

Yvonne also enjoyed owning and managing real estate with her beloved husband.  She held a real estate license for many years and she and her late husband Roy formed RANDY Enterprises to manage properties in Chicago, Illinois, Flossmoor, Illinois and Naples, Florida.  One of her favorite pieces of property was their condominium on Michigan Avenue from which she and Roy could walk to all the jazz clubs, fireworks display, and the Jazz Fest in Grant Park.  Her other love in real estate was their home in Naples. Florida where they spent many fun winters in the sun, on the water, walking the beaches, and enjoying the restaurants.

Her real passion was jazz singing, both privately and professionally.  One of her proudest moments was taking a jazz Scat class at DuPage College learning to sing like Anita Baker and Ella Fitzgerald, her idols.  Her first experience in singing was on a Chicago radio station at the age of 3 urged on by her mother who was excited about arts and music. Yvonne sang her way through life.  Like her late husband Roy, she was a jazz aficionado.  They spent hundreds of nights in jazz clubs in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Naples.  She sang with the local jazz artists in some of the Naples locales.

She lived a rich and fulfilled life of creative endeavors.

In lieu of flowers, donations to NAMI Chicago are greatly appreciated. www.nami.org

TO VIEW THE RECORDING OF THE SERVICES FOR YVONNE MESSERSCHMIDT, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW

https://youtu.be/m0H5taWiaVU