VANESSA NOEL (NELSON) YUILLE

December 8, 1987 - November 5, 2015

Vanessa Noel (Nelson) Yuille, 27, of Glasgow, Scotland, formerly of Caledonia, MN, passed away on November 5, 2015, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she was attending the University of Toronto as a doctoral candidate. Vanessa was born on December 8, 1987, to Robert and Sharon (Thilmany) Nelson. She attended Caledonia Public Schools, attending her senior year at Winona State University, Winona, MN, under the PSEO Program. She went on to receive her bachelor's degree in English at Winona State. She moved to Glasgow, Scotland, to marry her husband, Rory Angus Yuille, on August 13, 2010. Thereafter, she attended the University of Glasgow and received a Master's of Research in English Language. In 2014, Vanessa successfully applied for the Connaught International Scholarship for Doctoral Students, which enabled her to pursue a PhD in information studies in the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto. Vanessa was the first international student in her program to have been awarded this scholarship. Vanessa excelled at piano in her pre-teen and early teen years, and continued to study the piano at Winona State University in Winona, MN. She loved music intensely, often forming strong attachments to songs and pieces that particularly spoke to her. She cared greatly for others, working as a caregiver to senior citizens at the Caledonia Nursing Home and to special needs persons at Hope Estates in Winona, MN. She also volunteered at the Winona Area Humane Society. Later, in Glasgow, Vanessa managed a Barnardo's charity shop and volunteered at the Glasgow Women's Library, tutoring English as a foreign language to women in need. But her empathy for others did not stop with these positions; she cared equally for homeless people on the streets wherever she found them, for the disadvantaged and underprivileged, and for stray cats and wounded birds. All who have known Vanessa have been touched by her open and giving spirit. She will be missed greatly. Survivors include her husband, her parents, father and mother-in-law, William and Mary Yuille, Monkton, Scotland, a sister, Valerie (Mark) Kircher, Kendall, WI, a brother, Christopher [Leah (girlfriend)], Eagan, MN, two brothers-in-law, Alasdair and Gregor (Jacqui) Yuille, Glasgow, Scotland, one sister-in-law, Seonaid (Paul) Stallan, Glasgow, Scotland, several nephews and nieces: Jonathan (Kelley), Tyler, Shayna, Jared. Noah, Annah, Rebekah and Elijah Kircher, Piper Nelson and Zachery Kircher, Holly Yuille, Rowan Stallan, and three great nieces and nephews: James, Ethan and Braylee Kircher. She is further survived by her two beautiful cats, Margot Theodora and Beulah Edith. She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grand parents and two nephews, Steven Kircher and Dylan Stallan. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm, Sunday, November 15, at McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, MN. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, November 16, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Caledonia, MN, with visitation one hour before in the Gathering Space. Donations are requested to be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in her name to do a small part in building a future without suicide.