Yvonne C. Waligora
Yvonne C. Waligora
August 26, 1940 – October 28, 2025
Yvonne Clare Sanders Waligora passed away peacefully at home on October 28, surrounded by the love of her husband and three daughters.
Yvonne was preceded in death by her mother, Eva Le Blanc Sanders, and father, Clyde Sanders; sister, Joyce Hanagriff; and brothers, Gene Sanders, Rene Sanders, and Byron Sanders. She leaves behind a legacy of love and joy, cherished deeply by her husband of 60 years, Jim Waligora; her youngest brother, Mark Sanders; her daughters Lisa Waligora, Christine Hay and husband Paul Hay, and Laura Childs and her husband Dara Childs. Her pride and joy were her five grandchildren, Megan Hay, Jessica Hay, Noah Childs, Milo Childs, and Gillian Childs.
Yvonne was devoted to her faith in God and actively lived a prayerful life. Her dedication to prayer was evident with her many prayer books and lists of names. She prayed every morning and every night for immediate family, for all in her circle, and anyone she discovered was in need; many never knowing of Yvonne’s intervention in prayer. Her circle of love includes an aunt, cousins, nieces, and nephews, whom she enjoyed spending time with, talking to, and keeping up with them through Facebook. Her friendships also span across her life as a student at Mount Carmel here in Houston, the early days of her marriage, and friends from her time spent in Sagemont as a mom of three active girls.
Yvonne was a native Houstonian and the proud daughter of two charismatic parents who operated one of the best meat markets and barbecue restaurants in Houston. She worked at Mount Carmel Catholic School after being a member of their first graduating class, then at McCann-Erickson Advertising Agency, before meeting and marrying Jim. Her family was creative, and Yvonne’s talents were in making a home, caring for family, and cooking, as her grandparents and parents taught her. As a wife and then mother, she embraced life as part of the NASA and Sagemont circle of friends she and Jim cultivated over the years. She found infinite joy in her girls, showered love and affection on her grandchildren, was an avid reader, and above all, loved her husband Jim.
She enjoyed travelling and camping all over the country with her husband, friends, and family, driving up to Brenham to visit Laura and her family, or to Baton Rouge and her LSU granddaughters. Antiquing with friends or watching and cataloging the birds in her own backyard were some of her favorite things to do. Yvonne embraced all things Apple with her iPad, iPhone, and Mac computers. She loved watching the horse races, especially when her niece’s horse was running, talking to her brother about the Astros, and checking in on her cousins. She even checked up on her daughters if they were travelling home at night with a phone call and the ever-present question, “All is well?”
We miss her terribly, but we know that yes, all is well for Yvonne now, and that because of her, all of our lives are full of love, joy, and gratitude.
A visitation will be held on Friday, November 7, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. with a wake service at 7:00pm at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main Street, League City, Texas. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 8, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 1612 East Walker Street, League City, Texas.
*In lieu of flowers, the family hopes you will consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or MDAnderson.org/Gifts, both causes close to Yvonne’s heart.
For those unable to attend vigil you may watch live stream.
I still can remember when I would go baby sit at the house when uncle Jim was out of town. I guess she thought ai would scare away the boogie man.
She also made some curtains for the windows in my station wagon to block the light.
Real first gen sun shades.
Always loved her laugh. We will miss her.
I loved our “catch up” phone calls. We would reminisce about times pass and all of family “ how are theys”. Exchange pictures. She shared her love of horse racing with her brother and grandfather Joseph Simon LeBlanc. Her laugh was catching. She was very intelligent on many subjects. Even tho I was her younger Aunt, she seemed like my big sister. I loved her dearly and miss her already. Hugs and kisses till we meet again. Love to my family. May God watch over you while we’re apart.
Most of my memories are early ones. I remember her wedding day, spending the night with her and uncle Jim before the girls were born. She took me to the zoo and would tell me later about a lost balloon! Her poodle, Babette whom she loved so. I remember I loved going to her house after the girls were born and she would cook delicious food and let me play with girls often. I loved holidays at her house, she made everything special! She was kind and wise and my favorite Aunt! She always told me and all her family that she loved them everytime we’d see her. She was a special person and will be missed!
Aunt Yvonne was a very special lady in my life. Always kind and loving from her true heart. I could not wait to go to her Christmas parties as a youngster for many years. She had a great love of family and we all felt that love. She and I shared many phone sessions going over all the family, our families, our family ancestry, race horses, our children and grandchildren. I named one horse Liska after my great grandmother I was fascinated with. She will be deeply missed.