Ouida Maxine Young

It is with great sadness our family announce the passing of our dearly beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Ouida Maxine Young, aged 91, on February 1, 2022, at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home. She was predeceased by her husband John Hugh Young in 2015 and her son, Gary in 2011 and her brother Elwin in 2004.       

She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Gail (Wesley) Hazlitt, Donna (Gordon) Reitenbach, Kevin (Debbie)Young, Ross Young, 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Her sister Valri Betker and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins across the country.

Mom was born to Gerald Clayton Frith and Mabel Frith (nee McMillen) in Melville Saskatchewan on December 29, 1930. She was named Ouida after a famous French author at the time who wrote a number of books including a “Dog of Flanders.” Mom continually had to correct people’s pronunciation and spelling of her name during her entire lifetime.   Her parents were both schoolteachers, however with the depression and crop failures they turned to other enterprises. Her parents moved from Carnduff to Melville and then to Yorkton. She was one of the first in her family to graduate grade 12 from the Yorkton Collegiate, played piano, loved tennis.  Mom married her high school sweetheart, John Young on October 3, 1950. Their family of five children soon followed. Raising five children was never easy but our mother was the rock of the family and the glue which held us together.   Mom worked hard and supported our dad and the family in the greenhouse business.  During this time, she also worked for the federal government retiring in 1988 after 25 years of service.

Mom loved to curl and enjoyed the bonspiels and socializing at the rink.  Many pies were taken to the curling rinks during these bonspiels.

Mom looked after her mother, our grandparents, great aunts, and uncles helping them all in many ways over the years. Family dinners they attended were large and always followed with a game of bridge. She always found room for four more if they turned up for dinner unannounced and thought nothing of having 24 people for a sit-down dinner

 Mom was an incredible knitter, superb baker of bread, buns, and desserts.  She was known for her delicious pies, jams and jellies, and pickles.  She helped raise and looked after many of her grandchildren, having them at the cottage over the summer and or at her home during the year.  She loved to hear about all their activities and schooling.

Our parents built their cottage at Good Spirit Lake where they welcomed many families, friends, and guests over the years.  This was their “Happy Place”.  Mom and Dad were fortunate to have over ten retirement years in their motorhome in Yuma Arizona with side trips to Mexico.  They enjoyed lots of good food, laughter, and built many valuable friendships.

Our mom was a beautiful, classy lady both inside and out.  She was humble and kind. After Dad passed away, mom slowly declined.  When you have someone with dementia you grieve the person who has left but is still living and then you grieve again when you must let them go.  We know that heaven is blessed with perfect rest and our mom is there now, forever with our dad and those who have gone before.

Our family wishes to express our appreciation and thanks to the staff for the level of care given to our mother during the past three years at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home.

Cremation has taken place and an Internment Service will take place June 24, 2022, 11:30 A.M. at the Yorkton Cemetery.

Those we love do not go away. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear.

For more information or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.ChristiesFuneralHome.com.

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