Yolanda Mary (Finamore) Games

Yolanda Mary (Finamore) Games, 99, a longtime resident of Mentor, Ohio died peacefully Friday, October 27, 2023, at the Novant Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina after a short illness. Yolanda (“Lonnie”) was born at home on October 6, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio. The third child of hardworking, resourceful Italian immigrant parents, she grew up during the Great Depression. In the Finamore household there was love, security, and plenty to eat. There was also an emphasis on being American and embracing “the new country”. Lonnie graduated from John Hay High School in 1942. After working for a year, she enrolled at Ohio State University, graduating in 1948. Her class was the first to receive a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing. After graduation, Lonnie performed public health and private duty nursing assignments. On a blind date while at Ohio State, she met a young mechanical engineering student, Donald Watson Games, who had just returned from Europe, a soldier during World War II. They were married in January 1949, the month after Lonnie graduated. Lonnie and Don were lifetime Ohio State Buckeye fans holding season football tickets well into their 80s. There was nothing like an Autumn weekend trip to Columbus to watch the OSU football team and spend time with friends. Over the years as a dedicated mother and homemaker, she was also an active Kappa Delta sorority sister, a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, a prolific gardener, league bowler, bridge player, part-time realtor, and crafting enthusiast. As an avid golfer, Lonnie even has a hole-in-one to her credit! Yolanda was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years; her parents, Achille Finamore and Pasqua Ferrara Finamore, and siblings, Victor Finamore (a casualty of WW II), Josephine DiVito, and Alfredo “Fred” Finamore. She is survived by her four children: Donald William Games (Rebecca) of Austin, TX; Richard Alan Games (Karen) of Boston, MA; Kathleen Games Blank (Jeffry) of Charlotte, NC; and John Howard Games (Carol) of Lubbock, TX; 12 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends between 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 10, 2023, at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, Ohio 44060 A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 11, 2023, at St. Mary of the Assumption, 8560 Mentor Ave., Mentor, Ohio. Lonnie was a faithful member for 63 years. Entombment will follow at Knollwood Cemetery Mausoleum, 1678 SOM Center Rd. Mayfield Heights, Ohio. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the American Cancer Society; online at www.cancer.org/ Please offer condolences at www.brunners.com

Yolanda Mary (Finamore) Games

October 6, 1924 - October 27, 2023