Noticias
Memorial Tribute Established Honoring Frances Young
August 12, 2026
A memorial tribute has been established through the Endowment Floral Americano in honor of Frances (“Fran”) R. Young, who passed away on August 1, 2026, at the age of 98. The tribute was established by Amy and Greg Royer, longtime friends of the Young family, in honor of Fran’s life and in support of the floral industry that continues to be an important part of her son Ken Young’s life.
Fran will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to family, generous spirit, and remarkable ability to make everyone she met feel welcomed and loved. A faithful member of St. Thomas More Catholic Parish in Glendale, Arizona, she lived a life centered on faith, family, friendship, and kindness.
Born in Plaquemine, Louisiana, to Salvatore and Catherina Gulotta, Fran spent many years in the Chicago area before relocating to Arizona to live with her son, Ken, and daughter-in-law, Lynn. She was preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, Ken, and is survived by her devoted son, numerous nieces and nephews, and extended family who embraced her with love throughout the years.
Fran Young was the mother of Ken Young, a longtime member of AFE’s Board of Trustees. Throughout his years of service, Ken has supported AFE’s work in research, education, and scholarships and has been a strong ambassador for AFE’s travel grants for retail florists. The values of generosity and service that were part of Ken’s upbringing have carried forward through his many years of giving back to the floral industry. This memorial tribute honors Fran and the lasting influence those values have had through her family.
“Since Mom was not a florist, it took her a few years to adjust to the hours demanded of florists during certain times of the year. Delayed dinners for the holidays, for example, became the norm over the decades. She never complained, and given the fact that I did not have any flower shop responsibilities this past Mom’s Day, it was the first Mother’s Day that we had the entire day together since high school,” reflected Ken.
As an only child, Ken credits his parents with providing the grounding that shaped the person he became and the values he carried throughout his life. After Ken and Lynn relocated to Arizona, Fran made her home with them for 35 years, welcoming Lynn as a daughter and becoming an important part of their family life. She also demonstrated remarkable resilience, recovering from two broken hips in her 80s and remaining mobile in the years that followed.
Fran found great joy in cooking, hosting family gatherings, and creating handmade keepsakes for those she loved. Christmas was her favorite season, especially when she filled her home with homemade Italian fig cookies and pizzelles. She also enjoyed trips to the casino, treasured the companionship of her family dogs, and created countless memories that will be cherished by family and friends for years to come. Read Fran’s full obituary here.
“Mom was an expert crafter, and during my years at Amlings Flowerland & Bowl of Beauty in Chicagoland, she designed and oversaw the production of a line of handcrafted miniature Christmas Trees under glass domes. We were fortunate to get placement in the Swiss Colony and Fingerhut catalogs, where thousands of them were sold over the years,” Ken recalled.
Fran lived a long and fulfilling life surrounded by the family and friends she loved. Ken shared that he feels especially blessed to have had his mother in his life for so many years and will remember her as someone who was always in his corner. In a fitting tribute to one of Fran’s favorite pastimes, he encourages those who knew her to think of her the next time they find themselves at a casino and “push a couple buttons on a slot machine in memory of Frances.”
Funeral services were held in Arizona, with Fran later to be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Ken, at All Saints Mausoleum in Des Plaines, Illinois.
You can honor Fran’s memory with a donation to the Frances Young Memorial Tribute. Contributions can be made online here or by sending a check with this form to AFE.
Fundación Floral Americana
c/o Frances Young Memorial Tribute
610 Madison Street, Suite 101, PMB 803
Alexandria, VA 22314
The family will be notified of all donations, and contributions may be made in any amount.
