Obituary of Maria Young
Maria Yolanda (Guardiani) Young, age 92, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Westview Healthcare Center in Dayville, CT, after battling Type 1 Diabetes for 80 years. Through every season of her life, she demonstrated remarkable strength, perseverance, and unwavering faith. She was the beloved wife of the late Samuel F. Young, who died in March of 2018. Maria was born on May 31, 1934, in Southbridge MA, the daughter of the late Eustachio and Yolanda Guardiani. She lived most of her life in Southbridge MA, attending the Southbridge schools, later making her home in the Woodstock Pomfret area of CT.
She attended South Woodstock Baptist Church and had many dear friends there. Her greatest love was the Lord, and her faith guided the way she lived each day. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her endless joy, and she treasured every moment spent with them. In addition to her family, she found happiness in the simple pleasures of life. She loved crafting, tending her garden and working alongside her husband Sam restoring and decorating their homes, especially their Woodstock home.
Maria will be remembered for her steadfast faith, her gentle spirit, her quiet strength, and generous love for others. Her life reflected God’s faithfulness and she leaves behind a legacy of devotion, kindness and love that will continue to inspire her family for generations to come.
Though she will be deeply missed, her family rejoices in the assurance that she is now at peace in the presence of her Savior.
She leaves her children Donna Kozakowski and her husband Ray of Quinebaug, CT, Michael Young and his wife Jackie of Southbridge, MA, Tricia Renaud and her husband Gary, of Woodstock, CT, Tina Young and her wife Malea Rhodes of South Deerfield MA; grandchildren Krystyna Kozakowski, Stephan (Corie) Kozakowski, Elizabeth (Mark) Tlumacki, Rachel Young, Jacob Young, Taylor (Aric) Graves, Evan (Brooke) Renaud, Jordan Renaud, Lucas (Emily) Renaud; great grandchildren Quil, Oakley, Atlas, Vynn, Mark, Marigold, Yvette, Ellis and Moriah; sister Ann Guardiani of Worcester, MA, sister in law Anne Marie Guardiani of Worcester, MA, a dear friend Pat Hackett of Worcester, MA, along with many nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her two brothers, Frank Guardiani and Alfred Guardiani.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Westview Healthcare Center and to Dr. Joseph Botta for the wonderful care, kindness, and dignity they showed our mother throughout her time there. Their dedication, comfort and support meant more to our family than words can express, and we will always be grateful.
A celebration of life service will be held Monday, August 24, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the South Woodstock Baptist Church, 23 Roseland Park Road, Woodstock, CT. A reception will be following the service in the Fellowship Hall of South Woodstock Baptist Church, and all are welcome to join the family for a time of fellowship and remembrance. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Maria’s memory to The American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 or to Caring Families, 37 Ivan Hill Street, Willimantic, CT, 06226. Share a memory at smithandwalkerfh.com.