Aprille Lynn (Douglass) Yanke, 70, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 19, 2023, from complications arising from cancer. She was in hospice care at home in Arizona surrounded by many friends and family.
Aprille was born August 2, 1952, in Bangor, Maine, the daughter of Neal and Calla Douglass. She grew up on Court Street in Bangor and attended the local schools from kindergarten through Bangor High School, graduating in 1971.
During this time, Aprille was very active in the Hammond Street Congregational Church, Peg Bennett’s Dance Studio and various YWCA activities. She also learned to love the outdoors through her parents' love of camping and exploring. In high school, she was active with the majorettes, Latin club, newspaper, chorus and intramurals.
Upon graduating from high school, Aprille became a bank teller for Depositor’s Trust in Bangor until she married Curtis Reynolds. Curtis was drafted into the Air Force, which took Aprille away from Bangor for 6 years, returning in 1978.
Together they had two sons, Christopher and Ryan, and she became a stay-at-home mom for them and also started a small daycare center in the house.
Aprille became very active with Boy Scouts, filling many positions over the years. She was awarded the Ron Theriault award for her outstanding service to the organization.
After her divorce in 1982, Aprille began to explore other parts of New England with her sons, and she eventually made a new home in Arizona, where she worked for several retirement homes as a food services director.
After her retirement, Aprille, whose greatest passion was to assist people, embarked on a new path of home health care. She worked for several home health agencies in the Phoenix Metro Valley.
Aprille met her husband Rick Yanke in 2018, and moved to Page in 2019 to be with him; they married in April 2020. While in Page, Aprille recognized a need for senior care and assisted numerous families and their loved ones. She also loved to be Mrs. Claus to Rick’s Santa. Wherever Aprille saw a need, she was eager to help.
Aprille is survived by her husband, Rick Yanke of Page, Arizona; her two sons, Christopher (Mary) and Ryan (Joy) Reynolds; and five grandchildren, Brady, Chase, Madison, Jackson and Morgan.
Aprille will be remembered by all who loved her as a woman who dedicated her life to service for others. She was dearly loved and will be profoundly missed.
In lieu of flowers, Aprille’s family is asking that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
