King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes tells us that timing is everything. He implies that man has his appointed cycles of seasons and transformation, as the sun, wind, water and everything in between. There is an appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every event under heaven.
I will also borrow the words of an unknown author who said, “Life is a book in three volumes, the Past, the Present and the yet to be. The Past is written and stored away, the Present we write every day, and the yet to be (Future) we cannot see because God holds the key.” Like everyone and everything Dawn had her seasons.
On April 17, 1959, Albert (Tittin) and Areta of Beacon District, Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, welcomed the birth of a beautiful baby girl whom they named Darnalyn, and who later became affectionately known as Dawnie or Dawn.
Dawn attended Pedro Plains and Geneva Primary Schools and later matriculated to Newell High School where she developed a passion for teaching. After High School, the very assertive and educationally oriented Dawn armed with her High School Diploma and other qualifications enrolled in the prestigious Bethlehem Memorial Teachers College. Three years later she successfully completed her Teacher Education Diploma specializing in Remedial Learning and was sent to Barneyside Primary in Westmoreland for her Internship. Dawn returned to St. Elizabeth a year later and taught at Arlington Primary and subsequently at her Alma Mata – Newell High where she taught for a number of years. It was at Newell High that her training in Remedial Teaching helped her tremendously and where her love, kindness and respect for humanity began to emerge. However, being the person Dawn was, someone who always embraced new opportunities and, in her quest, to not only make her life better but those of her family members, she decided to immigrate to the United States.
After arriving in the United States, Dawn decided that her calling was to take care of the elderly, so she did the requisite training that would prepare her doing so. Throughout the thirty plus years that she worked in this field she took exceptional care of her patients. To her each patient was special and she treated them as if they were her family member. She would go the extra mile and beyond her call of duty to ensure they were comfortable even if it meant changing her shift or working extra hours at short notice. At times she would leave her family and travel with her patients out of town or even to another state in order to provide the same care she did at home for them. Her motto was “The job has to be done”. This positive attitude helped her many times when her patients passed and family members gladly recommended her to another family to take care of their loved one. Caring for others became Dawn’s life ambition and she did so passionately and selflessly almost to the end of her life.
In September 1989, she was blessed with the precious gift of her daughter Tamara (Kim). She was her pride and joy and was a wonderful, loving and dedicated mother to her. Kim knew that Dawn was not only her mother, but was a friend, confidante, protector and provider. She knew that unlike many children, she had a mother who stood between her and the cruel world. In recent years she was blessed with two beautiful granddaughters Adalynn and Alina whom she showered with love and who loved their Nana just as much. Her absolute joy was being around Kim, “the girls” as she called them and Kim’s spouse Daniel. For them, life will never be same without the presence of Dawn in the midst.
In October 1983 Dawn lost her father Albert and her mother Areta in June 1995. The passing of her parents proved very difficult periods in her life. She would often reflect on their lives and would speak glowingly of them especially on their birthdays and the dates of their passing, sometimes even being emotional. She carried them in heart until the day she passed.
Dawn had a special place in her heart for siblings, aunt, uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. She fitted so perfectly in our lives, sometimes replacing that mother, grandmother or aunt who had passed. Dawn found the time to listen to our concerns and would offer help where necessary even though at times she was doing so at great personal sacrifice. She had a heart of gold and was a mentor and motivator in her own right. The impact of Dawn’s passing on her family is best summed up in some of the words of one of her nieces, “Aunt Dawn was the sweetest loving person who always had a kind word and advice for me. I am numb and in shock. Death is not an easy thing to go through, but we have each other to lean on”. And this is made easier by the legacy of love and care that Dawn had given to us and is testament to the many family members and friends who are gathered here today to pay our respects to her.
To all of Dawn’s friends, she was their best friend. She truly cared for each of them, some of them going back to her childhood, teenage years and early adulthood. She had many friends, because she was so easy to get along with. She was very loyal and committed to them and even when she had not seen or spoken to some them for years, the moment she is reunited with them she was overjoyed. I’m sure they will miss her too.
Dawn was a faithful servant of the Lord since she was a teenager. She attended Grace & Truth Church in Jamaica and was a vibrant member of the Young Peoples’ Group and participated in several church activities which oftentimes took her to various places throughout Jamaica. She continued on the same path here in the United States, first as a member of Episcopal Church, then First Baptist Church of North Miami Beach and finally at ChristWay Baptist Church where she remained a member until the time of her passing. Dawn was the first to offer a prayer, words of encouragement and was the Comforter-In Chief to family, friends and colleagues when the need arose. She was an ardent student of God’s words and would be up by 5am in order to do her daily devotion before starting her day’s activities. She truly exhibited the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The faithful servant that she was, her work here on earth has now ended.
On Monday June 27, 2022, the ever pleasant, kind, caring and loving Darnalyn Roach Young made her transition peacefully surrounded by her beloved daughter Tamara, son-in-law Daniel, and niece Julia. Her Past, Present and Future in this life has come to a close. Her legacy is etched in the hearts of her loving family members, friends and colleagues. Our future on earth is without her, life will now be lived with the wonderful memories we created with her.
Dawn is survived by her beloved daughter Tamara (Kim), grandchildren Adalynn and Alina, son-in-law Daniel, sisters Gertrude, Barbara, Cherry and Aneth, brothers Tomlyn, Alexander, Wesley, Heron, Dean and Dave, aunt, uncle, cousins, other relatives and friends.
As we prepare to lay her mortal remains to rest and we continue with our everyday lives, let us pray that God will help us to live so that those values that were so important to her, will continue to live on, in and through us in the things we say and do. From her strength we must learn to persevere, from her hard work we must learn to achieve, from her love we must learn to be supportive and from her generosity we must learn to be charitable. As we celebrate her life and mourn her passing let us hold dear to the cherished memories of her. To the blessings and the laughter, the joys and celebrations, the sorrows and the tears because together they add up to a treasure of fond memories that we have shared together. These special moments and memories of Dawn in our lives will never change. They will always be in our hearts today and forever.
All Seasons and Chapters closed.
May her soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon her.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnsouth.com for the Young family.
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