Betty Jane Young, 71, passed on August 15, 2025, at Birchwood Terrace Rehab and Healthcare in Burlington, Vt., with her husband at her side. Betty had been living at Birchwood Terrace since March 2024 due to her Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2018. Betty is survived by her husband, Robert Young of Jericho, Vt., and daughter, Caitlin Bomba; son-in-law, Jared Bomba; and grandson, Luca Bomba, all of Greenville, N.C. She was predeceased by her parents and brothers Patrick and Philip.
Betty was born in Morrisville, Vt., in 1953 to Patrick Henry O’Hear and Arlean Mae (Ryea) O’Hear. She attended Lamoille Union High School, Johnson State College and eventually the University of Vermont, where she received her master’s degree in social work. She worked first as a Head Start teacher, then, after receiving her master’s, as a crisis clinician for Howard Center before finding her passion as a college professor at Community College of Vermont, where she taught psychology classes for 20 years.
Robert and Betty were married in a small meadow on a beautiful summer day in 1974 on Robert’s parents’ property in Johnson, Vt. They lived in a small apartment in Jericho while saving money to buy a home. They eventually returned to Lamoille County in 1987, living in Johnson, where their daughter was born. With Betty and Robert working in the Burlington area, they decided to move to Jericho in 1999.
Besides teaching, Betty enjoyed many types of crafting: beads, stamps and card making, as well as knitting and cross-stitching. She was also a super fan of Prince and Phil Collins, whose music would be played loud and often in her younger days.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on August 31, 2025, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Community Center in Jericho.
Robert and Caitlin would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Birchwood Terrace for their dedication and thoughtful care. Also, the staff at UVM Hospice who were so very helpful as Betty neared the end of her life journey.
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2025.