Just hours before her life was cut short, Yvonne Beres was surrounded by the joy of her adult children as they celebrated Christmas together.
What should have been a festive holiday turned into tragedy on Boxing Day when Yvonne was found stabbed to death in her Langwarrin home.
Yvonne Beres. Image: Facebook.
Her husband has since been arrested and charged with her murder.
Yvonne, 59, was a proud mum and grandma, a volunteer at greyhound charity Gear 4 Greys, a talented IT and administrative specialist, and a cherished member of her community.
Yvonne's relative Stefany Nemet told the Herald Sun Yvonne was a "besotted" grandmother to her one-year-old grandson.
"She loved her family," she said. "When her only grandson came along, she was glowing. She was besotted over that little boy. We just knew that she would be a wonderful grandma. We saw that love radiant through her.
"She was just a wonderful person, she was always up for a talk and a chat," Stefany added. "She was very generous with her time and would always invite us to celebratory events.
"We never saw any of this coming, never."
Neighbours recall Yvonne as someone who found joy in the simple things like gardening and walking her foster greyhound through the quiet neighbourhood, where she had moved to from Mount Eliza with her husband after their children left home.
Yvonne was an "extremely nice lady", one neighbour told The Age. "Having met her, this just made me very sad."
Those who knew Yvonne have struggled to process what happened. Just days before the tragedy, the couple was seen hosting friends in their backyard, enjoying the holiday season.
"There was laughter and chit-chat… everything seemed very normal pre-Christmas. It was an enjoyable, pleasant feeling," neighbour Martine Casagrande told 9News.
"Something like this happening in this quiet, friendly little street is really shocking."
On the morning of December 26, police arrived at Wood Duck Court at around 6:30am, responding to a call made by the accused.
Inside, they found Yvonne dead as a result of fatal stab wounds.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas of the Homicide Squad said police were working to piece together the events that led to her death.
"The family of the victim have been spoken to and obviously they are extremely upset… I believe the family gathered here yesterday at the address to celebrate Christmas," Thomas said.
The 63-year-old accused, described as a retired man with health issues, was taken into custody and charged with one count of murder. He remains remanded in custody and will appear in court again in April.
Forensic investigators spent hours at the scene, examining the home for evidence. The house, a double-storey property on a peaceful suburban street, was cordoned off with police tape.
Yvonne's death marks the 101st femicide in Australia this year, a devastating statistic that advocates say highlights the urgent need for change.
Sherele Moody, the founder of Australian Femicide Watch, drew attention to the stark disparity between the media's treatment of Yvonne's death and other high-profile Boxing Day tragedies. Specifically, she compared the coverage of Yvonne's death to the extensive reporting on two sailors who also tragically died during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, in separate incidents.
Moody wrote, "Yvonne Beres may not have taken part in a yacht race — or any other big-name sports event — but her life matters — as does her death. She deserves the same level of support as the yachties."
Meanwhile, the police investigation continues, with Detective Inspector Dean Thomas emphasising the importance of confronting gender-based violence head-on.
"Here we have what appears to be a family violence-type incident where we've had a female killed," he said. "We need to do everything we can to bring a stop to this type of crime occurring.
"We are still trying to piece together what has gone on and why it has occurred," he added, noting that there was no recorded history of violence between the couple.
Yvonne leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and community, remembered by her children, neighbours, and those who knew her.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, you can call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit their website for support. In an emergency, call 000.
Feature image: East Point Property.
