Diane E. Yonga

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Diane Elizabeth (Matter) Yonga was born October 20, 1959, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.  She was raised on a farm outside Audubon, Minnesota into a wonderful Catholic family.  Her loving parents were Ralph and Joyce Matter. Her siblings were her best friends:  Kathleen (Al) Klindt, Russell (Joyce) Matter, Jaqueline (LeRoy) Vandermay, Regina (Kevin) Hutchison, Ralph (Mary) Matter, Richard Matter, Roland (Shannon) Matter and Joyce (Jon) Stone.  Diane graduated from Audubon High School in 1978.  She met her husband, Jerry Yonga from Cameroon, while attending Moorhead State University.  Diane graduated with a BS degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Minnesota in 1985.  She later went on to graduate with a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1992- passing the Bar later that year.

Diane has three children: Lorice (Bassey) Ekereke, Joseph (Alexandra) Yonga, and Paul Yonga (fiancee Murphy Pickett).  She has four beautiful grandchildren:  Danielle Ekereke, Nicole Ekereke, Remy Yonga and Crosby Yonga.  While raising her family, Diane worked as a Westlaw Reference Attorney for 25 years.

Diane’s Catholic religion and her relationship with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ became of ultimate importance to her and became a driving force in to the person she hoped to become.  She worked hard to learn more about her faith through learning programs and to grow closer to God through daily Mass attendance and twice weekly Adoration.  She enjoyed volunteering for a variety of service projects.  Her deepening faith and trust in God lead her to follow a calling from God to become an overseas missionary, working for 14 months as a teacher and school secretary in a girls high school in Damongo, Ghana, West Africa.  This experience was truly a blessing and gift from God.

Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM Tuesday, February 27 at the Church of St. Mary of the Lake, 105 N. Forestview Lane, Plymouth.  Visitation Monday, Feb 26, 5-7 PM with 7 PM Prayer Service at Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel, 15800 37Th Ave N., and Tuesday at church one hour before Mass.  Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights.  In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Lay Mission Helpers or the Catholic Relief Services.