ROCHELLE — Jennette Melissa (Barry) Youngs, 79, of Rochelle, Illinois passed away peacefully on January 2, 2024. 

Jennette was a creator of all things beautiful: gardens, laughs, quilts, and family. She was born on June 24, 1944 in Hastings, Michigan, the daughter of Lyndon and Edna (Gardner) Barry. A hard-worker and lifelong-learner, Jennette cultivated her love for words and creativity in Hastings, where she graduated from Hastings High School in 1962.

Married to Jim Glaser of Steward, Illinois in 1965, Jennette and Jim farmed side-by-side for 17 years before Jim’s passing in 1982. In 1990, Jennette married Mike Youngs, a childhood friend from Hastings who later became known as “Dops” to their seemingly countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

One of her fondest professions was being secretary at Steward Elementary School, where she got to use her organizational skills and her love for people to care for her community. She was later employed at the First National Bank and Trust Company of Rochelle, as well as News Media Corporation.

Jennette was an active member of Ashton Bible Church since 1982. Faith was the guiding light of her life, providing her with relentless strength and resilience. She served on the Rochelle Park Board, Ogle County Hospice, and was a member of the Tres Dias community. Her unwavering belief served as a source of comfort and guidance to everyone around her.

Jennette and Mike loved nature, traveling to National Parks throughout the United States and enjoying the beaches of Siesta Key, Florida with friends and family. Jennette also found great joy in cheering on her grandchildren as they competed in an array of athletic events including track, baseball, football, soccer, cross-country, volleyball, and lacrosse. She loved to garden, to quilt, and to share her love of books and stories with her friends.

She will be deeply missed by her friends, family, and all who had the privilege of knowing her silly faces, strong embraces, and her nurturing spirit. Her memory will live on in the stories shared, the artworks created, and the lives she touched with her warmth and grace. Jennette’s survivors include her children: Ann (Bill) Bradshaw of Gilmer, Texas, Jim (Kris) Glaser of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Amy (Shawn) Case of Springboro, Ohio; stepdaughters: Kris (Mike) Winslow and Tracy (Dave) Sellers; sister, Linda (Jack) Reidy; nephew, Brent (Kathy) Chapman and niece, Laura Chapman. She was a loved grandmother known to her grandchildren as “Mimi”. Her grandchildren include Lindsey (George) Willis, Alec (Marissa) Bradshaw, Will (Tara) Bradshaw, Hannah (Truman) Thompson, Abigail Bradshaw, Sarah (Cody) Cassidy, Megan
(Kolver) Matos, Kelly (Joseph) Zebbs, Katelyn (Nate) Whitelaw, Brody, Keaton, Titan, and Sutton Case; step-grandchildren: Michael Youngs, Autumn Elder, and Tanja Babel, and Matthew and Thomas Winslow; great-grandchildren: Jalen Willis, Noah and Mason Bradshaw, Willow and Ruby Willis, Chance and Nate Bradshaw, Archie and Eloise Thompson, Elias Matos, James Cassidy, and Lorenzo Zebbs; step-great-grandchildren: Parker Williams, Annabell Elder, and Piper Lohse.

Her funeral service will take place at 11:00 A.M., Monday, January 8, 2024 at Ashton Bible Church, 702 Main Street, Ashton, Illinois 61006 with Pastor Farrel Stauffer officiating. The visitation will be held at Ashton Bible Church prior to the service from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ashton Bible Church. Burial will follow the service at St. Patrick Cemetery in Rochelle, IL.  Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.

May her generosity, compassionate heart, unwavering faith, and fierce independence continue to inspire us all.