Dora Nilda Yost

Dora Nilda Yost, age 94, of Hastings, Michigan, passed away on November 8, 2021. Dora was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on June 7, 1927, the daughter of Pedro and Ana (Muriente) Defillo.

After Dora graduated from high school, she left Puerto Rico and came to the United States at the age of 18. She took a civil service test, passed it, and started working in Washington, DC for the State Department, translating passport documents. She used to eat lunch sitting on a park bench across from the White House. While living there, she met Johnny, the man who would become her husband on August 1, 1947. He had just returned from WW2 after being stationed on the aircraft carrier, the USS Ranger in the Pacific Ocean. They were married for 36 years until his passing on August 19, 1983.

Dora's husband John was in the military for 20 years, serving in the Navy and Air Force, and she lived in West Palm Beach, FL, Greenville, SC, and in March of 1959, she sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge on her way to Japan, where she lived for 3-1/2 years with her family. When John retired from the service in October 1962, they chose Orlando, FL to be their home. Dora lived there until she moved to Hastings, Michigan in 1987.

Dora loved to read, and she could spend up to twelve hours a day reading her many hundreds of books in her recliner if she didn't have errands or shopping to do. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lowell, Michigan.

Dora was preceded in death by her parents, Pedro and Ana (Muriente) Defillo, her husband John Robert Yost, one brother and one sister, Carmen.

She is survived by her son Charles R. Yost of Hastings, Michigan.

A small private celebration of life service was held at Girrbach Funeral Home on Thursday, November 11 at 2:00 PM. The Reverend Steve Luchies gave a beautiful, moving remembrance service as he reflected on Dora's life. Dora was laid to rest at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Winter Park, FL next to her husband, John. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.