Louise Gladys Young

Louise Young (nee Sosnowski) passed away peacefully at home on April 10, 2026. Devoted in her faith and released from decades of pain, she is now joyfully in the arms of her Lord and most likely enjoying a G&T with her parents Mary and Walter (Baba and Gigi to us all), brother-in-law Jack Walls, friend Ruth Gillies and, at long last, her beloved husband, Jerry. Louise is survived by her children, Joshua Young (Meghan Winters), Tiffany Hamilton and Sarah Payne (Jason); her cherished grandchildren Nick, Nigel, Aksel, Autumn, Emily and Erik; her dear sister Irene Walls; and nieces Lisa Geddes, Katie Spitz and Jenny Newell, who knew her as SooSoo.

Louise was born in the Ukrainian enclave of Myrnam, Alberta and earned her teaching certificate in the mid 1960s from the University of Alberta. She married in Edmonton in 1967, later settling in Chilliwack, B.C. to start a family. Following Jerry’s death in 1978, Louise and her three children moved to Abbotsford, B.C., surrounded by the steady support of her sister and parents for which she was eternally grateful. Louise taught at Yale Secondary School for nearly three decades, known as “Miz Young” to thousands of home ec students. Her booming teacher’s voice meant many more were fleetingly schooled in the culinary arts as they passed by her classroom.

Louise loved food. She collected cooking magazines, cataloguing recipes like a librarian, hosted elaborate dinner parties and passed along her passion for cooking to her children. Louise expressed her love through food, and not going for seconds (or thirds) was considered a personal affront. She loved bright colours and anything sparkly, and adored a good sale. She was an active member of the Catholic Women’s League at St. Ann’s Parish, spending days at a time preparing baked goods to support their fundraising efforts. She started every morning by completing the crossword puzzle in The Province newspaper and she read nearly every crime or thriller novel in the Abbotsford Library. She worked hard at every task she tackled. Louise, SooSoo, Mom, Baba - we miss you now and always.

Funeral Mass will take place at St. Ann’s Catholic Church (33333 Mayfair Ave., Abbotsford) on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 10:30 a.m., followed by light refreshments. Burial service is at 1:30 p.m. at Musselwhite Cemetery (35301 Old Yale Rd., Abbotsford).