Yvonne Renverse Mapp, 101, of Oxford died at Ware Presbyterian Village Wednesday, October 1110/19/2023
Yvonne Renverse Mapp, age 101, of Oxford, PA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 in her apartment at Ware Presbyterian Village. Born in Belgium on June 30, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Fernand and Louise Quintart Renverse. Yvonne was predeceased by her husband, Isaac Mapp, and her brother, Mutien She is survived by her closest friends, Laura Anderson, Rita Smyth and Robert Lillich. Yvonne’s life was one of music. A graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels where she studied piano, chamber music, harmony, keyboard harmony and music history, she was named Professor of Piano of the School of Music in Felieze and the Music Academy of Soignies in 1945. During her tenure as the accompanist of the 120 Voice Protestant Choir of Brussels she met her future husband Ike who was a soloist in the choir and a student at the University of Brussels. They were married in 1952 and emigrated to the United States in 1954 when Ike was offered a biology teaching position at Lincoln University.
A classically trained concert pianist, Yvonne gave a recital at Lincoln University in 1956 and soon after began a teaching career in piano. Word spread quickly that Yvonne was offering piano lessons and soon it was well known that if a family wanted their children to study piano, “Madame Mapp” was the best teacher in the area. Over the next 40 years she taught hundreds of students of all ages. Her students will remember her as being serious about the music, but so very caring about each and every one of them. Yvonne’s other passions were for nature, gardening, birds, and all animals. She fed birds and squirrels even as she nurtured a feral cat colony who ignored the birds and came to her door twice a day for food. She and Ike had many, many pet dogs and cats throughout their lives. Her last beloved cat, Kalik, moved with her to Ware and lived to be 18 years old, predeceasing her by four months. Yvonne had a keen and curious mind and she read voraciously to keep up with current events, scientific breakthroughs, medical science, nature, and the arts. When asked what she would buy if she won the lottery, she always replied “a sports car!” Thanks to a generous car dealer on the main line, Yvonne got “the ride of her life” in a Maserati on her 80th birthday! Friends and former students are invited to share in a celebration of Yvonne’s life at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 11 at Mary Dod Brown Memorial Chapel on the campus of Lincoln University. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the S.P.C.A. 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. Oxford, PA. On-line condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com. Comments are closed.
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