Yvette Marill Briggs (“Frenchie”)
Born August 27, 1928
Passed away June 6, 2012
Our loving Mom/Nana/Grandma/Friend went home to be with the Lord – to quote a message received from one of her many loving friends – ‘she opened her eyes in Heaven – according to scripture – to be absent in body, is to be present with the Lord – we haven’t lost her – we know where she is’. Thank you, God – as much as we wanted to hold onto her here – thank you for answering our prayers. She is in her true home now – made whole by you, her Creator and Ultimate Healer.
Yvette Alexandrine Marill was born in Paris, France – raised in a convent where she studied nursing – she was born with that gift for caring for others. She met Wilson Briggs after the war and they married in 1950. She came to America in 1953 on the Liberty ship and after living in various cities – became a permanent resident in Largo, FL. She was a surgical nurse at Morton Plant Hospital in downtown Clearwater for approx. 35 years – assisted on the first open heart surgery team – before she became an independent surgical assistant for many doctors – but specialized in assisting GYN doctors with c-sections – she loved bringing babies into this world and would always come home and tell us about it. She maintained so many long-term and loving friendships from her nursing days.
Yvette was a member of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks for almost 50 years – she loved to sing in the choir and praise God with the wonderful choir of loving friends – what a blessing! She was always there to help and to care for whomever was in need – always like family. She was the most loving, giving and wonderful mother we could have ever hoped for – always sacrificing for her family. We thank God for her. She is forever in our hearts.
Preceded her in death by her husband (1998), Joseph Wilson Briggs and daughter (1961), Suzanne Marill Briggs; Yvette is survived by her daughter Isabelle Codorniou and son-in-law Didier Codorniou of Gruissan, France; son Robert M. Briggs of Charlotte, NC; daughter Beatrice M. Kaupke and son-in-law Greg Kaupke of Indianapolis, IN; and daughter Elize Greenoe and son-in-law Phil Greenoe of Palm Harbor, FL; seven grandchildren – Patrice Ancillon, Marill Ancillon, Aurelien Codorniou, and Jean Baptiste Codorniou all in France; Robyn Briggs and Jazlyn Briggs in Charlotte, and Ryan Greenoe in Palm Harbor; and four great-grandchildren -Jules, Lou, Jan, and Marcelle, all in France.
The family will receive friends and celebrate Yvette’s life at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks in Largo, FL on Tuesday morning, June 12th, for visitation from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and the service at 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. – with Pastor Scott Harris. Interment to follow at Serenity Gardens, Largo, FL.
Anyone wishing to send a floral arrangement, please send to the church prior to services. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the Missions Ministry (Faith Promise) at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks – www.indianrocks.org (click on give, then click on pay as guest).
We remind ourselves that this life is only temporary – thank you, God, for that comforting knowledge. You are deeply loved, Mom – and missed by all. As Dad would always say – ‘Sing Pretty’. †
Veterans Funeral Care
727-524-9202
Dear Precious Friend & all your Family … Our hearts and prayers are with you. Your mother was a beautiful & Godly woman, and we are so glad to have known her. May He keep you all “in the shelter of His wings”…as did she. With our love and blessings, Yvonne and Larry
I just loved the picture and thoughtful write-up.Our whole family will truly miss Yvette. We have spent at least 40 years of gathering together as a family unit celebrating birthdays, holidays, Christmas Eve and always our special daughtermother outings. I always introduced Yvette as my second Mom and she really lived the role. Thank you Yvette for sending the angel to me & my Mom so I could be with you the day before you pasted..Enjoy Heaven..We love you more! Karen And the Entire Snyder Clan
A beautiful sister in Christ. She will be missed by her many friends as well as her family.
We will always remember her smile even when she was in pain. There’s an empty space here on earth but she’s now filling the space in Heaven that’s been waiting for her. She’s with family and friends that havve gone on before her and she’ll be there to welcome us who shared her love of her God and Savior. Frenchie will be missed but she’ll be missed with a lot of good memories.
Loving memories will never by forgotten. What a wonderful person who spent so much of her life caring for others.
Frenchie, I will miss you so much! I just loved talking with you and of course singing in choir with you. We know where you are and that gives us such joy. You and Marynona im sure will be singing together for our
lord in heaven.
My prayers are with your family during this time
Barbara & Chris Nagy
It was a joy to sing next to Yvette “Frenchy” every Sunday. She would always save me a seat next to her. Now she is singing in the heavenly choir, and she’s probably “saving” a seat next to her so we can sing together again. we are going to miss her in our choir. She loved to sing and give Praise to her Lord and Savior. It is a privilage to know her and be her friend.
What a beautiful Memorial and tribute to Yvette Briggs. Although I did not know her I feel as though we have met. She has left her family the Greatest legacy anyone can leave a child. The legacy of Love, Faith, Family and knowing Christ. Reading about Yvette’s life she shines through her beautiful daughter, and surely through the rest of her family. Your in my thoughts and Prayers, with sincere sympathy for your loss and wishing you comfort in knowing she is home.
Elize and family, we are very sorry for your loss. After reading your mother’s obituary, we know that she must have been a wonderful person and mothergrandmother. Your tribute to her is beautiful.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you,
Karen and Matthew Short
Condolences to you and your family in the loss of your mom. What a beautiful lady — and born in my favorite city in the whole world: Paris, the City of Light. Our prayers are with you.
A true lady and child of God. She was kind and generous and and very funny. We miss our Frenchy.
Elize:
I am sorry for your loss. I didn’t know her, but I am certain your mother was a beautiful person and you will feel her loss deeply. Remember that it truly is just a passage for her, and you will see her again in a happier place.
Sincerest condolences, Margo
Ms. Yvette was such a wonderful and amazing friend to my Mother, Carolyn Waters, and to myself and my boys, Christian and Bennie. We were so blessed to have gotten to know her and that the Lord brought her into our lives. Our family including my boys will miss her so much, but we know that she is no longer in pain and is HOME with the Lord. One day we will unite with her, until then she will be watching over all of her loved ones. RIP Ms. Yvette (Frenchie) Briggs!
We love and miss you. You were always such a blessing to us. Your smiling face lit up every room.
I had the privilege to talk and share stories with Frenchy for many years. I sat next to her in the choir loft most of the time. She was in my bible study when I taught the WOW class and supported and encourage many of us in the class. We prayed together and laughed together and shared meals together. She will be remembered as a sweet and gentle, caring and compassionate lady. See you up there frenchy.
Brother Tony DiRienzo
It’s really sad to hear that she is gone but i know that she is in a better place with her husband and our lord. I will always pray for her no matter what. She was truly an amazing lady. Going to miss her amazing stories of the war and how she would speak french to us in the kitchen whenever she was there for dinner. Mrs.Briggs was a very smart womna-I did not know her for that long but i got to love her ALOT, i’d see her as a grandmother. My grandparents live in another country so i got to see her as one since she was always around. I’m going to miss her so much!! Rest in peace Mrs.Briggs I love you <3
Love,
Olenka Aviles
We had the privilege of knowing “Frenchie” both in our connection group and in choir. What a dear, dear person she was. We can just picture her singing praises to her Lord. God bless all the family and give them your extreme comfort.
Jan & Tom Morrison
I was fresh out of nursing school, 47 years ago, in 1965 when I first met Yvette. I knew nothing about the O.R., back then it was OJT. Yvette was the only person who,(as she was all her life), was genuinely kind,loving, spiritual, understanding,& fun. She was the best scrub nurse they had at the time. Because of Yvette, our friend Kathleen & I made it through the impossibly difficult first 6 months in that job. Yvette’s patient teaching & protection of us gave us both the courage & tools we needed to have more than 40 years each of successful careers in that field.
Yvette was far more than our teacher. I can’t even remember a day when she was not positive. We spent time together at work, parties, births of children, life events…including the illness of your Dad, Wilson. We always talked about family together. She told many stories about France & her life there.
I know Yvette was a very spiritual person all her life. She always loved her church & her participation in the choir. She had the most beautiful voice.
I know for sure, you are right when you say Yvette has gone to be with the Lord and is singing in God’s choir with your Dad. She told me almost those exact words the last time I saw her in the nursing home in Palm Harbor. She wanted to go with Wilson, Suzanne & her Lord.
Yvette was a unique person. She loved & was loved by everyone. She shared her joy and beautiful being with all who knew her. Yvette will be remembered, loved & missed always.
The above tribute to your Mother is so well done.
Prayers & Love to all your family
“Burchie”
Though we only met on the occasion of the wedding of my son, Greg, and your daughter, Beatrice, it was a joyous time always to be remembered fondly. Thank you for raising such a lovely and caring daughter who is a welcome addition to our family. We will do our best to take care of her but know you will be deeply missed. Beatrice always spoke of you with much love and admiration. Safe journey into the hands of God. Blessings from the Kaupke Family.
Dear Frenchy, safe at home in the arms of Jesus. What a precious thought.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,nor crying,neither shall there be any more pain; for the formenr things are passed away.” Revelation 21 vs 4
I meet Frenchie in 1976 when I started working at Mortan Plant Hospital right out of surgial Tech. school. As anyone that know her, she took me under her wings and became a forever friend. She was a beautiful, loving , generous person that will be missed but not forgotten by anyone who know, bye and love you Yvette
To Bob, Robyn and Jazlyn:
What a wonderful dedication to Ms. Yvette!!! I know that words may be of little comfort now but hopefully knowing that we are praying for you during this difficult time will bring you some solace. Travel safely…
Geri Walton & Family
Bob,
I am so sorry to hear about your Mother, my heart goes out to you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you as well.
Your brother in Christ,
John West
Frenchy was truly a wonderful woman of God. She was so caring, loving, and she will be greatly missed. She loved her choir family and we loved her. We know she is singing His praises in Heaven now. Psalm 91.4
God be with you in this time of renewal. For you mom is new again and this is time to renew your faith as well.
Bob, I am truly sorry to hear about the loss of you Mother, you and your family are in my Prayers. May the Lord continue to Bless & cover you during this difficult time. She is out of pain and in a Better Place, But she will always be in your hearts. I really enjoyed reading about her life. Peace & Blessings
Blessings . Thanks for all you did for us. Love Joyce and Trey
Bob,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared comfort you now and in the days ahead.