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Elsie Schiff Yeager

December 23, 1927 – June 11, 2024

Elsie Yeager of Walnut Creek, CA passed away peacefully and with dignity on June 11 in her Rossmoor home. She was 96 years old and remained fiercely independent throughout her final days. Born and raised in Montreal to a family of Jewish immigrants who emigrated to Canada from Poland, Elsie excelled at school and had a passion for classical music She loved playing the piano from an early age and studied the instrument seriously into young adulthood, taught piano for a few years, and then played for her own enjoyment for most of her life.

In 1950, Elsie Schiff married Jack Yeager after meeting him while taking lessons from the same piano teacher. The couple shared their love of music and their lives for the next 63 years. When her only son, Mark, was born, Elsie devoted herself to being an exceptionally devoted mother and meticulous homemaker and took pride in maintaining a spotless home and becoming an extraordinary cook and baker, preparing delicious meals and baked goods for which she was renowned.

After 40 years in Montreal, Elsie, Jack, and Mark moved to Boston where Jack accepted a managerial position with the Gillette Company. In 1970 they settled in the town of Dover, southwest of Boston, where Elsie and Jack enjoyed small-town life and the pastoral countryside for the next 43 years. In 2013 when declining health made it too difficult to maintain the Dover home, Elsie and Jack moved to a new condo in the nearby Boston suburb of Natick. Elsie was instrumental in advocating for this change and finally convinced Jack, after years of perseverance, that downsizing to a one-level condo was a necessity. Elsie loved the ease of condo living but unfortunately Jack’s failing health led to his passing away 9 months later. Faced with an exceedingly difficult life choice, Elsie agreed (after being persuaded by her son) that she should relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area to be close to Mark and his spouse, Tim.

In December 2014, Elsie moved into a newly renovated condo in the Rossmoor community in Walnut Creek. At age 86 she adapted well to her new California life, loving the mild weather, enjoying attending concerts and exploring new cuisine in the Bay Area’s fine restaurants for several years until chronic pain severely limited her mobility. Despite many health challenges, she remained determined to live independently, which was made possible by her son's care, and the additional assistance of dedicated outside caregivers in her final months.

Elsie was predeceased by her husband Jack Yeager, her brother Harry Schiff and is survived by her son Mark Yeager, son-in-law Tim Blevins, nephew Jack Yeager, niece Linda Schiff and their respective families. A celebration of her life will be held at Fernwood Cemetery in Mill Valley on June 27 at 2:30 pm. She will also be remembered at a private reception at the home of her cousin in Wellesley Massachusetts on July 12.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elsie’s honor to the Music at Menlo Chamber Music Festival and Institute. Click the below link to donate.

https://musicatmenlo.my.salesforce-sites.com/donate/?dfId=a0nHr000007zatfIAA