Thé family
Very inspiring men life . All my sympathies to family and friends
YOUNG, Lyle
1958 - 2025
Young, Lyle Robert
1958 - 2025
Lyle's life was a testament to exuberance, optimism, and a deep joy for living. He steadfastly upheld the principles of honesty, love, and care for others.
Born in 1958 in Kincaid, Saskatchewan, Lyle was the fifth child of farming couple Percy and Kezia (née Martin) Young. After spending his early childhood in Glen Bain, Saskatchewan, the family moved to Regina in 1967 while continuing to farm. Lyle attended Campbell Collegiate, where he immersed himself in music, drama, and a local United Church youth group. During this time, he developed a lifelong passion for canoeing and camping. He forged many close friendships and maintained these connections throughout his life.
As a teenager, Lyle was a disciplined musician, often practicing the alto saxophone before 6:00 a.m. After high school, he pursued classical saxophone studies at Ball State University in Indiana, where he was first introduced to Christian Science. Lyle's thirst for knowledge was boundless. After earning his music degree, he was interviewed for a Rhodes scholarship and did receive a Rotary Fellowship scholarship. He studied French literature at Laval University in Quebec and, remarkably, learned Spanish in just four months before enrolling in a Jesuit university in Buenos Aires to study political science. His curiosity led him on a walking tour of Brazil, where he spent several months in São Paulo and, naturally, learned Portuguese. Upon returning to Canada, he studied for a master's degree in political science at the University of Saskatchewan, writing his examinations in French. He further broadened his horizons with a political internship at the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa and a year of MBA studies at Carleton University.
By this time, Lyle had made Ottawa his permanent home, and it was one of the church members who introduced him to Elisabeth Salm. Raised in a Christian Science family in the Ottawa area, Elisabeth became Lyle's beloved wife in 1990. For their honeymoon, they shared their love of the outdoors with a canoe trip down the Rideau Canal to Kingston. Their affection for each other was reflected in the terms of endearment they used in Dutch, Spanish, French, and English. Lyle's favorite for Elisabeth was the Dutch "hartendiefje"—"little stealer of hearts." They were a perfect complement to one another, sharing a dedication to Christian Science, community, and the environment, always with sensitivity, laughter, and joy.
Lyle and Elisabeth regularly opened their home for meetings and dinners for church events, relatives, neighbours and friends. Over the years they hosted extended stays from Elisabeth’s brother, her mother and a nephew. Lyle’s relationship with the Salm family, both in Canada and in the Netherlands, continued to be important to him after Elisabeth’s tragic passing in 2018.
Lyle's commitment to Christian Science became his life's work. After joining the Ottawa church, he began working as a Christian Science practitioner, helping others realize their spiritual potential. He served as First Reader at Sunday services and Wednesday meetings, presenting the sermon from the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. Together, Lyle and Elisabeth contributed to numerous church projects and committees. In 2004, they moved to Boston when Lyle was appointed First Reader at The Mother Church, a role he held for three years.
Lyle's work extended globally. He lectured on Christian Science in more than 35 countries in English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese, served for six years on the Board of Directors at The Mother Church, and authored over 150 articles for church publications. After returning to Ottawa full-time in 2017, he continued teaching Sunday School, mentoring his adult Association students worldwide, and maintaining his full-time public practice as a Christian Science practitioner.
Lyle's life was defined by his passion for serving others, which he carried out with tenderness, integrity, and joy. He was intelligent, well-read, inquisitive, fun-loving, humble, and dependable. His selflessness and ability to see the good in others left a profound impact on everyone he met. Reflecting on his work, Lyle once told a friend, "Why would I not love a job where my boss (God) does the work?"
Lyle will be remembered as an inspiration to all who knew him, especially by his surviving family members: his mother Kezia; his siblings Dale, Gary, Verna, Lauren, and Leslie; Elisabeth's siblings Luc-Anne, Roland, Floris, and Mundie; and his many nephews and nieces. His love and kindness will remain forever in our hearts.
The "Celebration of Life" service will be held Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Avenue, Ottawa. The celebration will be live streamed starting at 6:10 pm Eastern time at https://www.youtube.com/live/cpYPOk-eOJM.
Additionally there will be a dedication ceremony for The Elisabeth C. Salm and Lyle R. Young Community Pollinator Garden on May 17th at the New Edinburgh Park Fieldhouse, 203 Stanley Ave, Ottawa, ON K1M 1P2. The ceremony will be followed by a potluck dinner at the Fieldhouse. People are asked to meet at the Fieldhouse at 4:45 with the ceremony to begin at 5:00.
Additionally there will be a dedication ceremony for The Elisabeth C. Salm and Lyle R. Young Community Pollinator Garden on May 17th at the New Edinburgh Park Fieldhouse, 203 Stanley Ave, Ottawa, ON K1M 1P2. The ceremony will be followed by a potluck dinner at the Fieldhouse. People are asked to meet at the Fieldhouse at 4:45 with the ceremony to begin at 5:00.
Donations to the Lyle Robert Young Fund at the Ottawa Community Foundation will be used in a way consistent with his values. Please specify the fund name when making your donation online via www.ocf-fco.ca or when sending a cheque made payable to the Ottawa Community Foundation, to 301-75 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5E7.
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