She got through all of last year

Good times and bum times —
She saw them all, but my dear,
She’s no longer here.

The actress everyone is eulogizing as the “definitive Lily Munster” had another, in La Cieca’s opinion far more important credit. In 1971 Yvonne de Carlo created the role of Carlotta Campion in Follies, and introduced the showbiz anthem “I’m Still Here.”

As we all know, Stephen Sondheim wrote that song while out of town, replacing “Can That Boy Foxtrot.” Which, La Cieca supposes, makes La de Carlo responsible for the cult status of that more racy Sondheim ditty as well.

Yvonne de Carlo died on Monday, January 8 at the age of 84.