Obituary of Vivian Irene Young

Vivian Irene (Charles) Young

April 7, 1927 – August 29, 2024

Vivian Irene [Charles] Young was born at home on April 7, 1927 in the MD of Odanah, Manitoba, to Harry and Clara Charles. She was the third of five children, having an older brother and sister and two younger sisters. She attended Havelock School from Grade 1 through 9, a typical one-room prairie school 1.5 miles from the farm.  The siblings walked to school in the summer but rode in a heated wooden van on skis, pulled by horses in the winter. She then attended high school in the town of Minnedosa. Though only two miles from the farm, she had to board in town since there were no plowed country roads in the winter.  In keeping with her parents’ desire that all the daughters have professional training, she went to Winnipeg for one year of Normal School becoming a teacher.

Her first position was the one-room Tremain School.  Being 11 miles from the home farm she boarded next to the school. She would ride her bicycle home on weekends. Unique to Tremaine was lighting the woodstoves before the students arrived for class.  Completing two years at Tremaine, she moved to Glenboro, Manitoba, a larger school with one grade per class.  Next she set out for more adventure and an even larger school in remote, northern Flin Flon where she was promoted into Junior High teaching and given the music program.

In August 1954, Vivian married George Young and moved to the oil fields of Alberta, briefly to Devon and by the spring of 1955, to Stettler.  That year their first son Robert (Bob) was born. The next year daughter Nancy was added and in 1958 another son Bryan completed the family.  Stettler was George and Vivian’s home for the next 46 years, until George passed away.  After a brief time in Edmonton, Vivian settled into Calgary in 2003.  She spent many happy years in her condo in Valley Ridge, before choosing a retirement home and finally a care facility in central Calgary.

Vivian loved music, especially singing.  Next to her Christian faith and family, music was her passion. She taught music in schools, and led Elementary school musicals. She directed both children’s and adult choirs at Stettler Baptist Church. She sang in groups, in musicals in Flin Flon, and in the teacher’s Madrigal group in Stettler. Her school choirs were often selected to compete in Provincial Festivals. Even up to the age of 90 she played the piano for her Westview Baptist seniors’ group.

Travel was always on her to do list. Upon retiring she and George took their RV across Canada. Other destinations included many of parts of the US, Hawaii and as far as New Zealand.  The couple especially loved the Rockies west of Nordegg, made even better when friends and family came along.

Vivian loved to socialize: “Strangers are only strangers for about five minutes.” She had a knack of talking to anyone regardless of their age.

Predeceased by her husband George (2000) and her son Robert (2019), as well as all of her siblings, Vivian is survived by her daughter Nancy and her son Bryan, both of Calgary, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.  Now absent from us; forever present with Jesus.

Social Hour

2:00 P.M., Wednesday, September 4, 2024 

at the Stettler Funeral Home, Stettler, Alberta

Memorial Donations in Vivian's memory to any Charity of Your Choice would be appreciated.