Julia Claire Young

Julia Claire (Higbee) Young passed away peacefully in the loving embrace of her family at her home in Heartlands Retirement Community, Ellicott City, Maryland on July 4, 2016.  She was just a few days shy of her 86th birthday.  “Claire” was the oldest of three children born to Samuel Cecil Higbee and Julia Claire (McManemin) Higbee arriving in record-setting heat in Atlantic City on July 21, 1930. She spent the early part of her childhood living with her parents and two younger brothers along the South Jersey Shore including Brigantine Island and Margate.  Later the family settled in Bridgeton, New Jersey where Claire graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1948.  After earning a BA in English from Immaculata College in 1952, she embarked on an adventure with fellow graduates and traveled by car across the country to settle in San Diego, California.  Here Claire and her close friends lived together, worked in various fields, and enjoyed great times with friends met through the local Catholic USO.  Although scattered across the country now, Claire remained close to these women throughout her life.  Eventually Claire met and married William Forrest Young, then a Lieutenant and naval aviator stationed at NAS North Island.  After their wedding in January of 1958, they lived for a brief time in Kansas City, Missouri, then returned to the East Coast and Woodbury, New Jersey.  After a short transfer to Pensacola, Florida, where her husband completed his service in the Navy, Claire and “Bill” returned with their growing family to settle in Delaware.  Primarily a dedicated mother and homemaker, Claire raised four daughters and three sons with her husband of 41 years who preceded her in death in December of 1999.  With such a full household, (including assorted dogs, cats, and a rabbit or two), she had her hands full managing many different personalities.  She was the kind of mother who often baked bread and cookies, grew her own vegetables, sewed and knitted clothes, and insisted that the television be turned off to encourage out-door play.  Once her youngest children were in school, Claire started a new career with the Christina School District in Delaware, working in the Payroll Department until her retirement in January of 2000.   In the Spring of 2014, Claire sold her home in Delaware and relocated to Ellicott City, Maryland in order to be closer to her children. Claire was known and loved by all for her friendly, outgoing personality and her genuine kindness and care for others. She approached the world with a sense of wonder and appreciation and her broad range of interests included geology, history, poetry, painting, and bird-watching. She also enjoyed caring for her many pets over the years.  In her active years she enjoyed camping, hiking, and gardening. Claire was a proud member of the Cooch’s Bridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and participated in their many events and charitable functions.  A faith-filled Catholic, Claire was a daily communicant at Mass in the Heartlands Chapel until her declining health prevented it.  She is survived by her bereaved children, Thomas Joseph (Julie Bruinsma) Young, Mary Jo (David) Lukowski, Pamela Marie (Dominic) Palmer, Elaine Claire Young, Paul Andrew (Karen) Young, Nancy Lorraine (Joseph) O’Donnell, and Rev. Lawrence Allen Young; ten grandchildren; Megan Carolyn (William) Low, Derek Bruinsma, Renee  (Dustin) Gamby, Lauren Bruinsma, Dominic Michael Palmer, Kevin David Lukowski, Emily Jane Young, Aaron William Young, Kolbe Joseph O’Donnell, and Liam O’Donnell; and two great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her youngest brother Dr. James Joseph Higbee of May’s Landing, New Jersey. Claire was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and most recently by her brother, Samuel John Higbee.  Friends and family are invited to pay their respects at a viewing in Ascension Catholic Church, 12700 Lanham Severn Road, Bowie, Maryland at 10:30 am on Tuesday, July 12th.  A Mass of Christian Burial will take place immediately following the viewing at 11:30 am.  An Interment service will take place on Wednesday, July 13th at 1:00pm at the Delaware Memorial Veteran’s Cemetery on 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, Delaware. In lieu of flowers, Claire’s family invites you to make a donation in her memory to one of these two organizations:  Gilchrist Hospice Care, 5537 Twin Knolls Rd., Suite 433, Columbia, MD 21045  (410) 730-5072  Forgotten Cats, Inc.  Suite 422, 4023 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE  19807  (302) 429-0124