Yrizarry received both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Art degrees from Queens College in New York.  (It was at Queens College while studying for their Master's degrees that she and Addison Hodges met.)  She has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women Anniversary Grant (1983-86) and the Ellen Battell Fellowship for Study at Yale University (1981).  Additionally, Paramount Pictures contracted with her to use several of her paintings in the motion picture, "Runaway Bride".
Yrizarry's work may be found in numerous collections around the country.