Elena Islas Young

Elena Patricia Islas Young passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2015 after a long, hard fought battle with cancer. Elena was born on December 27, 1954 in Austin, Texas to Javier and Ellen Mae Islas. During her early childhood she lived with her family in Houston, TX where her father was employed by Brown & Root. This allowed her family to travel extensively and in 1958 they were transferred internationally where she lived in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Peru. Elena’s family returned to Houston in 1968 where she attended and graduated from Westchester High School in 1972. Elena attended the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish with a minor in History. Elena then returned to Houston where she worked as a Spanish Translator for several years before becoming a Legal Assistant. Elena obtained her Paralegal Certificate from the Houston Paralegal Institute and worked as a Real Estate Legal Assistant for the Butler & Binion Law Firm until 1991. It was at the law firm in 1987 that Elena met her future husband, Robert Young while he was working on contract natural gas take-or-pay litigation. They were married in Houston in June of 1991 at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church after which they moved to Lafayette, LA where Robert was working as a Petroleum Engineer. In 1994, they returned to Houston where they both continued in their same professions and purchased their first home in April of 1997. Shortly thereafter in October of 1998 they welcomed their beautiful daughter, Grace Katherine Young, into their family and from that moment on Elena embraced her duties of being a wonderful Mom and Wife. She truly enjoyed volunteering at Grace’s schools and events, maintaining a beautiful home, loving her cats and pampering her husband. Her wonderful sense of humor, sharp wit and beautiful smile will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband Robert and their daughter Grace, as well as two brothers, Joe (Pepe) and Phil Islas. Joe’s family consist of his wife, Aurora and their two daughters, Angela and Amanda. Angela’s family consist of her husband Troy and their daughter Alyssa. Elena’s parents preceded her in their death in 1984 for Javier and in 2010 for Ellen Mae. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Barry Siller and his team of nurses and professionals for giving us many extra years with Elena with their extraordinary care, compassion and guidance as she fought this terrible disease, to Father Troy Gately who helped guide us spiritually through this fight and who still stands by us today as we struggle to continue without Elena, my friends and colleagues at Noble Energy who have gone way beyond what is required to allow me the time to take care of my family, the entire Baltazar Family for all of the assistance that they provided along the way and finally to all the family, friends and neighbors, too numerous to name who have provided assistance, prayers, comfort and support. We could not have made it through this journey without everyone’s help and it is all greatly appreciated. The Young family will be present to receive friends for a viewing and visitation Monday, January 19, 2015 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a Vigil service beginning at 7:00 PM at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079. The Funeral Mass will commence Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 10:30 AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, Texas 77079. Mrs. Young will be entombed at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Texas Liberty Mausoleum following holy mass via motorized cortege. A reception will follow the entombment at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to your local SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals athttp://www.houstonspca.org/site/PageNavigator/donate_main and/or to the American Cancer Society at https://donate.cancer.org/index

Elena Islas Young

December 27, 1954 - January 10, 2015