Linda R. Young, 69, died July 6, 2021, from complications during heart surgery. Born in Bethlehem, she was a daughter of the late Leo F. and Rose S. (DiFulvio) Barth. She was the wife of the late Raymond T. Young Jr. for 45 years.

She earned a diploma from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in 1970. She earned Master’s Degrees from Temple University and the University of Scranton.

She was, for 29 years, at St. Luke’s Hospital as a floor director and director and then vice president of nursing. She opened the Priscilla Payne Hurd Wing and Education Center, built partnerships with Moravian College to create a hospital -associated BS in Nursing program, created a community health needs assessment and co-created the Bethlehem Partnership for a Healthy Community; and introduced the first Mobile Health Van (HealthStar) for local elementary schools. For 12 years, she worked at the Quakertown campus. She established The Linda R. Young Nursing Education Endowment Fund for Quakertown Hospital for nurses’ ongoing professional development. She retired in 2012.

She was a life-long parishioner of Notre Dame of Bethlehem Church, where she was an Eucharistic Minister, cantor, choir member, lector and retreat team member.

She traveled to developing countries with Rotaplast International to assist with cleft palate surgeries. She was a Rotary District 7430 multi-year club president, District Governor and Rotary Leadership International and Welcome to Rotary chair.

She is survived by two daughters, Emily Aragona-Young and wife Jeralyn Aragona-Young of Blakeslee and Ellen Young of Bethlehem; and two grandchildren, twins Mya and Leo.

She was predeceased by a brother, Leo Barth.

Contributions may be made payable to Emily Aragona-Young and mailed to P.O. Box 315, Blakeslee, PA 18610, towards an educational fund for Mya and Leo.

Arrangements were made by Connell Funeral Home Inc., Bethlehem.