LIVE STREAM

Ella Mae Grace Young, 86, went to be with the Lord on July 13, 2025, at her lake cottage–her favorite place on Earth.

Ella Mae was born in Sault ("Soo") Ste. Marie, Michigan on September 13, 1938, the daughter of Harold and Viola Crimin. Ella Mae graduated from Sault High School, where she met and dated her high school sweetheart -  John (Jack) Young. They were married on September 20, 1958, and were inseparable for the next 63 years. With her "subtle suggestions," there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her.

Jack and Ella Mae owned and operated the Belvidere True Value Hardware Store together for over 27 years. While Jack was out front, Ella Mae made the place run. She was in charge of accounting, ordering, hiring and firing, payroll, inventory, and she did all of this while also doing everything Jack did too.

An active member of the Temple Baptist Church for more than 50 years, Ella Mae was on the Building and Grounds Committee: maintaining the landscaping, painting many walls, and decorating the lobby with her homemade, seasonal artwork. For a number of years, Jack and Ella Mae hosted the annual Fourth of July Church Picnic at their home's park-like yard.  They enjoyed the annual bus trips taken by the retired group the "Prime Timers."

From raising three kids, running a hardware store, and serving at church, Ella Mae was a true pioneer woman. There was nothing she couldn't do or figure out how to do: learning how to operate the store with a computer, maintaining her forest of trees with a chainsaw, crocheting infinite numbers of blankets, potholders, and angels, and fixing every household appliance.

Her greatest joy was spending time at their Cottage on Lake Ripley with family, neighbors, and friends. Dry towels, sunscreen, and beloved cookies would magically appear. Most days at the lake ended with a sunset cruise on the pontoon boat and ice cream before bed.

Ella Mae was a devoted wife, proud mother, doting grandmother and great grandmother.  Ella Mae will be missed by her children: John (Ann Dempsey) Young, Joan (Shannon) Tenney, and Jean Young; her grandchildren: Stephen (Laura) Tenney, Sarah Tenney, Rachel Tenney (Mike Holmes), Rebecca (Tyler) Thomas, Michael Young, Gloria (Josh) Kok, Arthur Young, and Andrea Werner; her great grandchildren: Parker and Lukas Young; her sisters-in law: Linda Crimin, Ann Young, and Eleanor McFarland.

She is predeceased by her husband–Jack Young, parents–Harold and Viola Crimin, brother–Tom Crimin, sister-in-law–Ruth Poppe, and brothers-in-law: Dale McFarland and Robert Poppe.

A visitation will take place on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 10:00am to 12:00pm with a service beginning at 12:00pm at the Anderson Funeral Home, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave. Belvidere, Illinois.  To share a memory or condolence visit Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services website -  andersonfcs.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crosspoint Church (formerly Temple Baptist Church) or the Gideons.