Yolanda Busse

Yolanda Maria Theresa Giovanna Rendano (Hoff) Busse, age 105, of Madison, passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at Agrace Hospice-Madison. She was born on November 9, 1915 in Youngstown, Ohio. Her parents were Italian immigrants from the Naples area. Her father and his brother came through Ellis Island and opened a jewelry/music store in Youngstown. When Yolanda was six, her father and brother decided to return to Italy and sent their families ahead while they tried to sell the business. Yolanda had many fond memories of her years in Italy, but her father was unable to sell the business to his satisfaction, and sent for the families to return to America. When Yolanda enrolled in school back in Youngstown, she should have been in third grade at that time, but she could not speak English, and so she was put in first grade. She was bothered a great deal by this, so she worked hard to make up the gap and went on to graduate from high school at the age of 17 as valedictorian of a class of 450. Her studies continued at Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and then on to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she graduated in 1938 with a degree in Business/Commerce. It was there she met her future husband, Arden “Bud” Hoff, father of her six children. Knowing that her father was making plans to take her back to Italy to find a suitable husband in the Italian tradition, Yolanda and Bud eloped on her birthday a month before she graduated from the UW.

When she was growing up, there was a great deal of discrimination against Italian-Americans, but Yolanda was very proud of her heritage, and passed her love of Italian cuisine and music on to her family. She stayed at home to raise her children and her house was usually filled with neighborhood children as well, probably because there was always a delicious snack ready. On Saturdays, after her house was in immaculate order, accomplished in drill sergeant fashion by her older children, she always rewarded them with a grilled Danish or English muffin at Rennebohm’s and SHOPPING! She had an innate gift with young children. Wherever there were small children, she would immediately get down cross legged on the floor and play “hide the coin” under her hands. On Sunday mornings before church, she had everyone’s shoes polished and lined up on the counter, put a roast in the oven with peeled potatoes on the stove and two homemade pies made the night before.

After the children were older, Yolanda used her UW degree as a Research Analyst with the University of Wisconsin. She loved games and crossword puzzles, and became an avid bridge player, eventually becoming a Life Master. While she was raised to love opera, she and Bud loved Big Band and Dixieland Jazz, and they were known as the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of the Madison night clubs. Sunday dinners remained a tradition even after the children were grown, as well as holiday and birthday parties, and the grandchildren still fondly remember “dinner at grandma’s”.

Eventually Yolanda and Bud parted ways, and Yolanda married Tom Busse. She made many new friends, and participated in “Gourmet Dinner” clubs. She loved sports, and held Packer and Badger parties, but was also an avid Brewer fan and loved tennis on TV. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren introduced her to swimming, golf and hockey. She lived in her Cherokee Condo and drove her big Buick Lucerne to bridge club until she was 98.

Yolanda was preceded in death by her first husband, Arden Hoff; her second husband, Thomas Busse; her son-in-law, Roger Wiebe; and her grandson, Jonathan Wiebe. She is survived by her six children; Nancy Wiebe; William Hoff (Donalyn); Betty Prosise (Rick); James Hoff (Mary); Richard Hoff (Betsy) and Steven Hoff (Cheryl); 21 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank all of the wonderful caregivers at The Jefferson, Brookdale Madison-West and Agrace Hospice for all of the great care and love given to Yolanda for many years.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, no service or celebration will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Yolanda’s name to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison, Agrace Hospice-Madison or the charity of your choice.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434