Yvonne (DeSerio) Beatrice

Yvonne Louise Beatrice (nee DeSerio), of Mahwah, NJ, passed away on November 1, 2025 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was one week shy of her 74th birthday.

Yvonne was born in Paterson, NJ on November 8, 1951 to her beloved parents, Rosylind and Louis DeSerio. Yvonne called several northern New Jersey towns home throughout her childhood, most memorably Fair Lawn and Ringwood, where she graduated from high school.

A proud graduate of Montclair State University, Yvonne was the first in her family to attend college. She started her teaching career at Ben Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood and Jefferson Elementary School in Hawthorne. After taking time to raise her family, Yvonne later taught American History and Constitutional Law at Mahwah High School.

Yvonne was a deeply loved teacher by all who sat in her vibrant and warm classroom, and she received numerous state-wide recognitions. Yvonne was awarded the New Jersey Teacher of the Year Award in 2012 by the Daughters of the American Revolution; the New Jersey History Teacher of the Year Award in 2010 by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History; and the Outstanding Educator Award in 2009 by the College of New Jersey. She was also often voted by the graduating class to be their commencement speaker, an honor she cherished.

Yvonne’s classroom was a dynamic one. She instilled in her students the value of community involvement and civic responsibility, and taught them how to be engaged, informed, and active citizens, all the while bringing history to life. Yvonne would dress as historical characters, create historical board games, and encourage participation in local governance meetings. She also created the much-loved “Mahwah Project,” which encouraged students to learn about their local history and to engage with various community organizations. In 2013, Yvonne was selected to be featured in the NJEA Classroom Close-Up segment for this innovative project. 

Along with her husband, Michael J. Beatrice, Yvonne also founded the Mock Trial Team at Mahwah High School. Together as teacher-coach and lawyer-coach, Yvonne and Michael led their tight-knit teams to 9 County Finals and 5 Bergen County Championships, the most titles won by any public school in the county.

Upon her retirement and in recognition of her incredible contributions to the youth of Mahwah, Yvonne was awarded a Proclamation by the Township of Mahwah in 2017.

Yet Yvonne’s contributions to her community were not limited to the classroom. Yvonne served for years as Girl Scout Leader of Troop 851; founded the Art in the Classroom program for the town’s elementary schools; coached recreational softball teams; served as Class Parent for both her children; and played third base for a women’s softball league.

During her retirement, Yvonne continued to be deeply involved in her community. She proudly served on the Board of Trustees of the Historical Preservation Committee for the Township of Mahwah and on the Board of Trustees of the Mahwah Museum.

Yvonne was also a woman of deep faith. She was an active parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Mahwah for three decades; served as Eucharist Minister; and founded the Liturgy of the Word with Children program. Yvonne not only organized and led this program for years, but she also taught CCD on Tuesday evenings in her home. Yvonne and her family later became parishioners of St. Elizabeth’s in Wyckoff. 

Yvonne and Michael memorably met while Yvonne was taking her students on a field trip to the Bergen County Courthouse, where Michael was trying a case. They married on November 11, 1979 at St. Anne’s in Fair Lawn with the same students in attendance. They later welcomed their beloved children: Michael Christopher and Jenna Mary.

Yvonne’s family was the light of her life, and she made every moment together special. She loved reading to her children and organizing adventures both big and small: hiking; fishing; rock concerts; museums; arts and crafts; the theater and philharmonic; archeological digs; and so much more. Yvonne particularly loved her family’s annual beach vacation to Avalon, NJ and spending weekends cheering on her beloved Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Most of all, Yvonne loved cooking for her family. Yvonne was a phenomenal cook and while she enjoyed creating a range of delicious dishes, her homemade meatballs and tomato sauce were the centerpiece of every family celebration. Yvonne was also a talented artist. She created posters for her classroom and hand-drew all of children’s birthday and graduation invitations, including her daughter’s wedding invitation.

Yet Yvonne’s proudest and happiest title was that of Grandma. Yvonne was a deeply involved and loving grandmother. She babysat for and nurtured all four of her grandchildren, and her greatest joy was reading to her grandkids; rolling around and playing on the floor; going on long stroller walks; watching sports games and dance recitals; having picnics; going to the zoo; trips to the library; Dr. Suess treasure hunts; and snuggling at naptime. They were the love of her life.

While Yvonne lived her life for her family, her warmth, love, attention, and compassion was shared with all who knew her. Yvonne’s ultimate legacy is how she made everyone feel in her presence: deeply loved, deeply cared for, and deeply valued.

Yvonne is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 46 years, Michael J. Beatrice; son Michael and his wife Carrie Beatrice; daughter Jenna and her husband Mark Kayal; cherished grandchildren: Luca and Julia Beatrice and Henry and Teddy Kayal; brother Louis and his wife Holly DeSerio; beloved nieces and nephews and grand-nieces-and-nephews; dear friends who provided decades of loving and deep friendships; and generations of students to whom she will always be remembered as their beloved Ms. B.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 6th from 4 pm – 8 pm at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home in Ramsey, NJ. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Wyckoff, NJ on Friday, November 7th at 10 am. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ms. B Foundation which will sponsor educational programming at the Mahwah Museum and Mahwah schools in Yvonne’s name. 

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