Previous Information (5/5/2000 - 9/12/2000)

10/06/2000    On Thursday, October 5th, Christy gently, and peacefully died after her courageous battle with breast cancer.  During this day family and friends were able to be with her, pray for her, and love her before she comfortably passed on to the beautiful heavens that wait for her.  I truly believe she lived knowing we were all with her in spirit, and love, and that she took comfort in the circle of friends she had created to help her family live and love from this day forward.

   All family and friends are welcome at the church on Friday, October 6, today,  at 5:00 p.m. thru 9:00 p.m. with a Triasagion Service at 7:30 p.m. There will be no services or visitations held at a funeral home. 

    Her funeral will be held 1:00 p.m. on Saturday October 7th, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 414 N. Main Street in Ann Arbor. Followed by her burial at Bethlehem Cemetery in Ann Arbor.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Christy Yenkel Friends fund, P.O. Box 3049, Ann Arbor MI  48106-3049.  The Yenkel home address is 1737 Covington, Ann Arbor MI  48103. 

   For those dear friends who are unable to attend the services, I will type out her notice of death from the newspapers, and any other closing remarks for this website that Christy has so inspired me to write.

 Thank you Christy, we love you.

They that love beyond the World,

Cannot be separated by it.

Death cannot kill, what never dies.

Nor can spirits ever be divided

That love and live in the

Same Divine Principle;

The Root and Record of their friendship.

If absence be not death,

Neither is theirs.

Death is but Crossing the World,

As Friends do the Seas;

They live in one another still.

William Penn

            From “Union of Friends”

            A couple of years ago, Christy helped to start a book club.  It is ironic now, that in the last year and a half she has written her own incredible story.

            The opening chapter is of a bright beginning, a wonderful loving husband, a rambunctious son, and now a beautiful baby girl.  All was right with the world. 

            Then entering into the story, as there always is, a villain.  Only this is unlike any evil character she has ever known.  A faceless thief that is powerful and strong.

            In the middle of the story is the battle.  A bloody and vicious attack that takes all of Christy’s reserves, all of her backup cavalry.  Christy hated war and violence, how did she learn to fight so hard?

            Unfortunately in this story there was no victory.  The enemy kept progressing with no retreat.  Christy was always looking for a break, a silence from the attack.  It never seemed to come.

            Death, be not proud.  Cancer, you have won no medals here.  And until there is a cure found to stop this villain yet another story will be written, another battle lost.

Many of you friends came into Christy’s story at different times in her life.  From the beginning chapters, or these last pages, all held an important place in her heart.  You see, it didn’t matter when you came over, as long as you came over.  Christy had a wonderful way of drawing you into her life and she comfortably made herself a part of yours.

Christy has written her story.  The chapters are finished.  However, her children will write her epilogue.  They will be her legacy, and I need you to help them write it.

We all have stories of our times together with Christy.  Days when we were young together as kids, vacations that we took, or maybe a quiet time that you cherished.  These memories are in our minds and in our hearts.  Please write them down.  Make them a reality to share, and help Nathan and Maria know their mother as we all do. 

YENKEL, CHRISTINA (PROKOS)

ANN ARBOR, MI

            Christina Yenkel(Prokos), age 36, died at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital on Thursday, October 5, 2000, following a courageous battle with breast cancer.

            She was born August 17, 1964, in Royal Oak, MI to parents Jim and Tula Prokos, who survive her.  She attended Pioneer High School and graduated from Eastern Michigan University.  On October 25, 1991, she was united in marriage to Mark Yenkel at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.  Together they shared a wonderful home filled with laughter, love, and life.

            Christy is survived by her loving husband Mark; and their beautiful young children, Nathan and Maria; five brothers and sisters,  Cerene Boudrie, George (Deana) Prokos, Steve (Tracey) Prokos, Ted (Rhonda) Prokos, and Cathy (Tim) Powell.  She is further survived by her many loving nieces and nephews: Staci, J.D., Alyssa, Connor, Sophia, Nikolaus, Carson, and Kylie.  Her grandmothers, Koula Prokos, and Theresa Chronis; her mother in-law and father in-law, Marilyn and Roy Yenkel, Jr.; sister in-law, Lyn Yenkel and brother in-law, Roy Yenkel, III.

            Funeral services for Christina Yenkel will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 7, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church located at 414 N. Main Street with Rev. Father John Paul officiating.  Burial will take place at Bethlehem Cemetery in Ann Arbor.  Relatives and friends are welcome at the church on Friday between 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. with the Triasagion Service at 7:30 p.m.