Maria R. Young

Maria Rosario Young

October 31, 1934 – November 22, 2018

Maria Rosario Young (remembered by many as “Rose Neri”) was born to Zacarias Navarro and Eulalia (Morales) Navarro on October 31, 1934 in Del Rio, Texas. Maria lived and went to school in Brackettville, Texas until age 21 when her family moved back to Del Rio. Maria had many nicknames – in school she was called “Mary Rose,” family and close friends called her “Chayo” and her co-workers called her “Rose.” When writing about her childhood, Maria said, “we always had music and lots of dancing in our lives,” and that theme continued throughout Maria’s life.

Maria married Frank Neri in August 1960 and together they had four children – Margarita, Francisco, Gerardo and Sylvia. Maria traveled with her Air Force husband first to Lackland AFB in Texas, then to Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona. In 1972, Frank and Maria came to Edwards AFB in California. In 1974, Maria and her children moved to Lancaster, California where Maria lived until September 2018. Maria spent the last few months of her life at Rancho Village in Palmdale, California.

Maria began working at Edwards Federal Credit Union (EFCU) in September 1972. During her many years at EFCU, Maria held the positions of Teller, Head Cashier, Operations Officer, Lancaster Branch Manager, Loan Processor/Loan Interviewer, and Loan Officer. Maria retired from EFCU shortly after her silver anniversary date in October 1997.

After being single for sixteen years, Maria married Howard Calvin Young on October 26, 1992 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Maria enjoyed years of marital bliss with Howard, often joking that she got him “out of the Sears catalog” because he was too good to be true. Maria cared tirelessly for Howard after his dementia diagnosis in 2001 until his death in 2012.

Maria is survived by three children, Margarita (Darwin) Moon of Madison, Alabama; Gerardo (Tiffany) Neri of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Sylvia Neri Marsh of Laguna Niguel, California. Maria is also survived by four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Maria is predeceased by her parents; brother, Francisco Navarro; infant son, Francisco Alfaro Neri; and husband, Howard Young. Maria will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who was highly regarded by all who knew her.

Mass will be held on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 565 W. Kettering Street in Lancaster, followed by graveside services and reception at Joshua Memorial Park, 44607 Challenger Way in Lancaster. In lieu of flowers, Maria requested that donations be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church – Capital Campaign (please indicate “in memory of Maria Young”).