Yvonne Pagaduan Verkuylen, beloved mother, lola, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2026 in Villa Park, California at the age of 63.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Albert; her children: Paula Vrzic (Milos) and Annemarie; her grandchild, Emilija; her sister and brothers: Margaret Ettinger (James), Patrick (Diane), Gerald (Evelyn), Stephen, and Michael (Jackson); and many cherished cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was born on September 28, 1962 to Teofilo Pagaduan and Remedios Lamadrid in Baguio City, Philippines. After graduating from the University of California, Irvine with degrees in Biology and Sociology, she earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach and dedicated years to educating and shaping young minds as a teacher.

She married Albert Verkuylen in 1990, and together they shared 35 beautiful years full of unconditional love, unwavering support and the joyful chaos of a life truly lived.

As a beloved member of the community, Yvonne served as an Academic Decathlon coach, talent show coordinator, Masters of the Arts volunteer, Sunday School teacher, and everything in between at St. Norbert Catholic School, as well as frequently volunteering at Mater Dei High School.

With an adventurous spirit, she loved travelling the world, listening to music, and attending live sporting events and concerts.

Yvonne lived a life guided by faith and filled with love, laughter, and resilience. She will be deeply missed but fondly remembered, her legacy carried on by those who were lucky enough to know her.

Ever the teacher, in lieu of a condolence book, Yvonne requested that friends, family and former students complete what she dubbed “Your Final Assignment - Lessons from Mrs. Verkuylen.” If you wish to participate, you can do so by physically signing the book at the Viewing/Rosary or Funeral, or digitally by sending an email to MrsVerkuylenMemorial@gmail.com. She hopes this assignment will help her legacy live on and impart her wisdom to her daughters, granddaughter and family.

Your Final Assignment Instructions:

1. Write your full name

2. Share how you knew Mrs. Verkuylen

3. Write about any important lessons you learned from Mrs. Verkuylen that you would like her family to know that they could use as they continue to journey in their lives.

Extra Credit: Share a photo of you and Mrs. Verkuylen

Although you will not be graded, proper grammar, punctuation and legibility are expected.