Elaine Ng Young's Obituary
Elaine Ng Young passed peacefully on February 26, 2026, at the age of 96. She was born in San Francisco on February 2, 1930. As a baby, she grew up in China until she was ten years old and attended Lincoln School in Oakland. Back then, there were not any special classes for non-native English speakers and was placed in a Kindergarten class as a ten year old! She was determined to be with her own age group of friends. She studied hard and that is where her love for reading all began.
While she was dating David, they enjoyed dancing, listening to music and going to movies. They got married when Elaine was only 19. Elaine later made her home in Oakland, where she built a life centered on family, hard work, and generosity. Elaine was a dedicated and industrious woman. She worked at the Emporium, owned and operated her own dry cleaners and was a steadfast partner in supporting her husband, David Young, in their grocery business in Oakland. Together, they built not only a livelihood, but a life rooted in commitment and perseverance. They were married for seventy years. David passed on the exact day and Elaine said, “he waited until today because he remembered our anniversary.” They spent a life time of dancing, teaching ballroom dancing and playing Mah Jong.
She is remembered for her strong opinions, kind heart, and generous spirit. Elaine expressed her love through her actions—especially in the kitchen, where she was a wonderful cook, and through her knitting, creating pieces that brought warmth and comfort to those around her. She was an experienced seamstress and loved making Christmas ornaments.
Though she never drove, Elaine was famously skilled at giving precise and confident directions, guiding her husband wherever they needed to go—a small but cherished reflection of her sharp mind and spirited nature.
Elaine was the eldest of four siblings. She is survived by her daughter Venetia, son-n-law John, granddaughter Aryn, grandson Griffin, granddaughter-in-law Cristy, her younger sister Edi and many, many nieces/nephews, grand nieces/nephews and great grand nieces/nephews.
Elaine and David are now busy dancing and teaching the Western Swing and Fox Trot in heaven.
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