Lucille T. Young passed away leaving behind a legacy of love, learning, and dedication to her family, her students, and the classical languages she so deeply cherished.

Born on October 3, 1941, at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, Lucille was the daughter of Lucy and Michael J. Rella, both of whom predeceased her. She grew up in Brooklyn, graduated from Bay Ridge High School, and began her career as a legal secretary.

In 1963, she married her beloved husband, John. Together they built a loving family and raised three wonderful sons, who remained the greatest source of her pride throughout her life. She was also the devoted grandmother of six grandchildren, each of whom brought her immeasurable joy.

After raising her children, Lucille returned to college with extraordinary determination and academic excellence. She graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Brooklyn College, earning a dual major in Latin and English. During her undergraduate studies, she received two awards for excellence in Latin. She went on to earn a Master's degree in Latin from Hunter College.

In 1984, Lucille began what she considered her life's calling when she joined the faculty at Bishop Kearney High School, where she taught for twenty years until her retirement in 2004. During her first three years, she taught Senior English Literature and additional English courses while completing her master's degree. After earning her graduate degree, she devoted herself exclusively to teaching Latin.

Lucille taught accelerated Latin Levels I through III, enabling students to complete three years of Latin in just two years. She also taught the Advanced Placement Latin course centered on Virgil's Aeneid. Her students studied the epic poem in both English and the original Latin, preparing for the rigorous College Board Advanced Placement examination. She was an inspiring educator whose passion for teaching challenged her students to achieve their very best and instilled in them a lasting appreciation for language, literature, and the classics.

Teaching was far more than a profession to Lucille—it was her passion. Nothing brought her greater satisfaction than seeing her students grow in confidence and succeed. Long after her retirement, she remained in contact with many former students through email, a testament to the lasting impact she had on their lives. She also treasured the enduring friendships she shared with former colleagues, many of whom visited her each summer, bringing her tremendous happiness.

Lucille is survived by her devoted husband, John; her three beloved sons; her three daughters-in-law; her six cherished grandchildren; her sisters, Dolores Brown and Annmarie Greene; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, former students, and colleagues whose lives she enriched. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Michael J. Rella.

Lucille will be remembered for her brilliant mind, her unwavering commitment to education, her perseverance, her warmth, and her boundless love for her family. You may have been a recipient of an email from Lucille wherein she'd write the Latin blessing, "Benedicto Dei semper sitis"—"May God bless you always."

Her legacy lives on in the generations of students she inspired, the colleagues who became lifelong friends, and the family who loved her beyond measure. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Lucille's memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

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Visitation
Monday, July 13, 2026
4 PM - 8 PM

Clavin Funeral Home
7722 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Complimentary Valet Parking Available


Funeral Mass
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
10:30 AM

Saint Patrick R.C. Church
9511 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209


Cemetery
Moravian Cemetery
2205 Richmond Road
Staten Island, NY 10306