Yolanda Joan Minnehan

Yolanda Joan Trapani Minnehan, 102 years

Yolanda Minnehan, known as Tipi to family and friends, died while a resident in Southlake, Texas on February 23, 2023. She was the widow of Bernard Aloysius Minnehan, of Fairborn, OH. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Victor Trapani and sister, Melina Trapani Falletta.

Tipi’s family spanned four generations. She is survived by her children, Patrick Mario Minnehan and his wife Monica, of Southlake, TX., Joan Burr Minnehan Riggs and her husband, William, of Fairborn, OH., Michael Burke Minnehan and his wife, Joan, of Falls Church, VA.

Tipi will be missed by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They are: Pat’s family: Brian Minnehan and wife, Marianne and children, Patrick, Liv, and Davis; Brett Minnehan and wife, Julie and son, Grant; Tara (Minnehan) Tinholt and husband, Alexander and children, Sebastian and Kathleen; step-grandchildren, George Gdovin and David Gdovin; Joan’s family: Victoria (Riggs) Ianelli and husband, David and children, Robin (Ianelli) Brennelli (and wife Jenna) and Marco Ianelli; Cassandra (Riggs) Kehoe and husband, Jeffrey and children, Aleea (Riggs) Kehoe (and husband Daniel), Marek Riggs and Brennyn Riggs; Mike’s family: Catherine (Minnehan) Papania (and husband Ben) and Thomas Minnehan.

Tipi was born in Verona, Italy, in 1920. Her father, Mario Trapani, was a carabinieri, or policeman, who was stationed at different locations in Italy before being posted to Sicily where he met and married Tipi’s mother, Caterina Ranieri. When Tipi was four, the family emigrated to America through Ellis Island and lived in Manhattan, New York City. As the U.S. entered World War II, she volunteered to work in the Air Warning Service in New York City. In 1942, she joined the first class of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs) in Fort Des Moines, Iowa. Although underweight and too short (4’ 11”), she managed to style her hair so that the enlisting officer could only put the measuring stick on top of her bouffant hair, adding several inches to her height.

Following WWII, Tipi met a young logistics officer, Barney Minnehan, while stationed at Brookley Field in Mobile, Alabama. He served in the Army, in Europe and was being transferred to Japan, through Brookley Field, when the war ended. They married in 1946 and had three children. Tipi served as a Supply Officer until 1947 as a Captain.
Barney continued his military career and they became an Air Force family. They lived on various bases around the world and in the D.C. area during stints at the Pentagon. In 1966, they were assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. In the seventies, Tipi and Barney bought a large, historic farm; circa 1803, in Fairborn where they enjoyed their retirement.

Tipi never forgot her roots and wanted her children and grandchildren to know their heritage. She took them to Italy many times. A typical three-week trip would include train travel to Verona, Tipi’s birthplace, as well as Venice, Naples and Sicily, where family still lives. She helped make memories and built family ties that would last a lifetime.

Tipi served as a Red Cross volunteer coordinator at Wright-Patterson Medical Center and founded a decades old tradition of serving luncheons every Wednesday during Lenten season at Our Lady Queen of Peace parish. Tipis hospitality included inviting many young airmen and chaplains to Sunday dinners and holiday celebrations at her home She was an original member of the International Spouses Group, representing the Italian table every year at the Wright Patterson AFB International Fair.

Tipi moved, in 2017, to Wickshire Senior Living community in Fairborn. She celebrated
her 100th birthday on December 23, 2020. It was a cold winter day, and Tipi sat outside as family and friends drove by on the driveway to wish her happy birthday, due to Covid restrictions. In April 2021, Tipi moved to Discovery Village Assisted Living in Southlake, TX.
She celebrated her 101st birthday in December 23, 2021 and met her youngest
great-grandson, Grant, born 16 days earlier. Her 102nd birthday celebration was at her
residence, in Discovery Village, with family and friends. Through her final years, Tipi enjoyed sharing her life stories, visiting with family, going out to eat, drinking espresso coffee in her favorite yellow cup, a lot of dark chocolate candy, and a glass of Italian red wine in the evening.

A graveside service will be held Monday, June 26, 2023, 10:00 am, at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery, 589 W. Yellow Springs-Fairfield Road, Yellow Springs, OH 45387. Tipi will be laid to rest next to her husband Barney. A luncheon, open to all, will be held following the service, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, at Prairies Chapel, Building 6568, 682 Chapel Lane, Wright Patterson AFB, OH. 45433.