Betty M. Young

Betty M. Young (nee Sponski), 87, of Mentor, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at University Tripoint Hospital in Painesville, Ohio. Betty was born on May 14, 1937, in Kirtland, Ohio at Women’s Hospital on Kirtland Road to the late William Stanley and Effie (nee Cooper) Sponski. Prior to her marriage, in her teens, Betty and her late sister, Margaret Crook (nee Sponski) worked as Candy Striper volunteers at Painesville Hospital. Betty then met John Wesley Young, her one true love, in Willoughby, Ohio in 1954. He had just been discharged from service and was still in uniform. They were married on September 25 of that year, in Mentor Village at the Mentor Christian Church. They were happily married for 66 years and 6 months before John passed away. Betty enjoyed being a stay-at-home wife and mother, but briefly worked as a childcare worker at the daycare in the old Painesville Lanes. Later she worked part-time as a representative of Weight Lib. She made many friends during her time there and enjoyed their fellowship as well as those of her church family. She kept in contact with treasured long-time friends Ellen Carr and the late Elizabeth (nee Wolfe) Jarvis. Betty would have loved nothing better than to have had all her children and grandchildren around her at all times, but her children and grandchildren’s lives took them miles from home. However, she kept busy with her Johnny, remodeling the homes they purchased in Painesville and Perry, spending their 20th anniversary in Hawaii and after retirement, traveling in an RV, and becoming snowbirds in Florida for a brief period. After their pace slowed, Betty enjoyed surfing on the computer, quilting, a later hobby of reading, collecting the most current highly rated movies on DVD, and acquiring plush beanie babies. Betty is survived by her daughter Deborah A. Zupancic (Thomas) of Nevada, and sons Jeffrey S. Young, Perry, Oh, and William E. (Kathy) Young of Lincoln Co., WV. Betty is also survived by four grandchildren, Eric (Joanna) Yokie, Stephanie (Brad) Rush, Kristina A. (Mark) Miller and William M. Young, as well as several great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She is also survived by late niece Michelle (David) Phillipp’s sons, Dustin and Cody Crook and Michelle’s two grandchildren whom Betty treated as her own grandchildren. Heartfelt appreciation is extended to Dave Sturgill for his patience and kindness to Betty in the absence of family when the need was great, and to grandson, Eric, for his attention, care, and love during her hour of need. Preceding her in death were her parents, William and Effie (nee Cooper) Sponski, a baby brother who was still born, her sister, Margaret Crook (nee Sponski) and Margaret’s daughter, Michelle M. Phillipp (nee Crook). Also preceding her in death was granddaughter Melissa M. Young. Crossing the Rainbow Bridge before her were several of her adored fur babies who were wonderful companions to both Betty and John. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 at the Potti & Marc F. Burr Funeral Homes, 1009 Mentor Ave. Painesville, OH with burial to follow at Perry cemetery. A visitation will be from 10am to 11am at the funeral home on Friday. Services entrusted to the Potti & Marc F. Burr Funeral Homes of Madison, Chardon, Painesville & Fairport Harbor. Obituary, online condolences and memorial gifts available at www.marcfburrfuneralhome.com .