Barbara Young

January 26, 1934 - November 15, 2023

Barbara Young, 89, passed peacefully on November 15th at her home in Chicago.

She grew up in Montreal and attended Macdonald College of McGill University where she qualified to be a teacher. While teaching she attended evening classes at Sir George Williams College and earned a B.A.

Barbara's life-story resonates with her strong will and fierce independence, motivated by her strong desire to experience the world first-hand.

In her own words, "Instead of a Hope Chest," (I) bought luggage." Her love for adventure led her first to London via steamship. Barbara worked various temporary jobs while traveling extensively in England, Scotland and Wales. She then ventured further into Western Europe with a woman from South Africa and then decided Africa would be her next destination. She traveled down the east coast of Africa, stopping at several ports and arrived in South Africa in 1960, a week after the Sharpville massacre to a very tense atmosphere. She continued to travel extensively, visiting national parks, game reserves, Victoria Falls, Kariba Dam and many cities. To earn money to get home, Barbara took a temporary teaching position in what was then South Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. From Durban, South Africa, Barbara sailed East, with stops at Singapore, Hong Kong and then a month visit in Japan, then Hawaii. She landed in Los Angeles and boarded a Greyhound bus, sleeping on the bus at night and sightseeing by day, Barbara arrived back in Montreal almost three years after she had sailed east up the St. Lawrence River.

In September 1968, Barbara arrived in Chicago two weeks after the Democratic convention to attend DePaul University, where she earned a M.A. in 1970. She taught GED classes at the Central YMCA Community until it closed in 1982. Barbara became an American citizen and taught in the Chicago Public High School system until her retirement in 1997. Her choices in retirement centered on making the world a better place and continued learning. Barbara volunteered promoting the Equal Rights Amendment, worked in aldermanic elections and participated in neighborhood watch walks in Rogers Park. She acquired Master Gardener status, and volunteered at the Kilbourn Organic Teaching Greenhouse, Garfield Conservatory, and at the Horticulture Department of the Shedd Aquarium. She served for multiple terms on the Board of Directors of the co-op where she lived and also helped in the office of the Unitarian Church of Evanston for several years. Barbara continued to travel, with llama trekking in southern CO, visited the Canadian Arctic in a Russian ice-breaker, and traveling in Alaska with a group sponsored by Unitarian Universalists. Her quick wit, gentle nature, and openness to life made her a joy to be with.

Barbara is survived by her nieces Teri, Catherine, nephew Michael as well as grand and great grand nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed, especial by her Unitarian Church of Evanston family.