Cheryl N. Young

Cheryl N. Young

(January 6, 1947 – October 6, 2023)

Cheryl Nadene (Richardson) Young , 76, of Normal, Illinois, passed away from pancreatic cancer on October 6, 2023, at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.

Cheryl was born January 6, 1947 in Pana, and grew up in Shelbyville. She graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1965. She married Herb Young, of Shelbyville, in 1968. They later divorced. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Eastern Illinois University in 1972.

In 1975, she and her son moved to Normal, where she began her career at Illinois State University (ISU) and held several positions through the years, lastly as Assistant to the Vice President of University Advancement and Director of Foundation Enterprises. She earned her master’s degree in Communications from ISU in 1990.

After 31 years of service, Cheryl retired from ISU in 2005. She enjoyed a lengthy retirement, spending time with family and traveling all over the U.S. and Europe. She had a passion for literature and music, and was an avid knitter.

Cheryl was a strong, loving person. She is survived by her son Matt of Normal; sister, Diane Richardson (Bob) Rebbec; brothers, Shane (Vicki) Miller and Ty Miller, all of Bloomington; niece, Amanda Rebbec (Zack) Bemis of Normal; niece, Kitti Miller of Norfolk, Virginia; great nephews Austin and Evan Bemis of Normal (who she lovingly called her “grandsons”); aunt, Norma (Richardson) Lynch of Dalton City. Also surviving are several cousins on both the Lynch and Richardson sides. She also leaves dear friends from Shelbyville, who she cherished and maintained close relationships with since grade school.

Her parents preceded her in death: Nadene (Lynch) [Richardson] Miller (1925-2018), formerly of Bloomington; and Harold Hart Richardson (1922 – 2000), formerly of Pana.

Family and friends are welcome to the visitation, which will be on November 4 ^th , 2023 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Howe & Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville, with a procession to Glenwood Cemetery for graveside services, followed by a Remembrance Celebration at Lake Shelbyville Visitor’s Center. Cremation rites were accorded by Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home in Bloomington.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation for our country’s veterans, PO Box 40726, Nashville, Tennessee, 37204.