Charlene Marie Young

Charlene “Charlie” Marie Young passed away on October 15, 2022, at the age of 63 in Parker, Colorado. Her death was sudden following a tragic fall that resulted in an intracranial hemorrhage. At the time of her death, she was lovingly surrounded by family who held her hands as she made her heavenly transition.

Charlie was the seventh of twelve children born to Thomas “Tom” Joseph Young and Charlene Elizabeth Young. She was born on January 31, 1959, at Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver. She fondly recalled her upbringing often telling stories of her experience growing up with eleven brothers and sisters. Memories of jumping off the roof onto the family trampoline (it was the 60’s), sleepovers at the admired family cabin in Idaho Springs, or large batch cooking for family dinners and holidays were the more frequent memories she would share. She attended All Souls Catholic School as a child and graduated from Englewood High School in 1977. During her high school years, she twirled the flag as a Pirette in her school’s marching band and traveled to the Portland Rose Festival Parade where her band placed first in a national competition.

Two years after her graduation, she was introduced to Michael “Mike” James Hlinko by a mutual friend. The two married on August 1, 1981, at All Souls Catholic Church and shortly thereafter welcomed their first child, Lindsay Renee Hlinko (Martin) on April 13, 1982. A year later, Charlie, Mike and their daughter Lindsay moved to Long Island, New York where they lived with Mike’s parents before welcoming their second daughter Rachel Erin Hlinko (Doerksen) on March 27, 1984. A few months after Rachel’s birth, the family moved back to Charlie’s beloved home state of Colorado where Charlie and Mike would raise their two children. Several years later, Charlie and Mike separated before their divorce in 1994.

Charlie spent most of her professional life as a mortgage broker and real estate agent. In the later part of her life, she worked at DISH Network and Lowes Home Improvement. As seen through her professions, Charlie thrived from her connection with others. This was most apparent in her ability to make new friends wherever she went. Be it at work, in the community, or through personal connections, many people remember her as a person with laughter in her eyes, a beautiful loving smile and a strong devotion to her large family.

Second to her affection for family and friends, her passion for helping those in need sustained throughout her life as she contributed to many clothing, toy or food drives with various charitable organizations. She also made it a point to regularly donate blood to help save lives.

Charlie is survived by her two daughters Lindsay Martin and Rachel Hlinko as well as their respective families including her two sons-in-law, Ross Martin and Jay Doerksen. She is also survived by her treasured and cherished grandchildren Mila Doerksen, Victoria Martin, Rhett Doerksen and Evelyn Martin whom she spoke about every chance she could get.