Smithfield High School community remembers adored music teacher

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — The Smithfield High School community is remembering a revered and adored music teacher.

The Smithfield High School Music Booster Club announced on social media that Katherine Young passed away over the weekend.

Young died due to complications from the flu.

“Her fierce and passionate dedication to the SHS community will never be forgotten,” the post said. “Her smile shone brightly. May her legacy live on through the lives of those she has touched.”

Young taught music at the high school for 10 years.

Kelly Chartier taught alongside her for several of those.

“It is shocking, it still does not seem real,” Chartier said. “I was just messaging her not too long ago. We were in touch, so it is still a shock to many in the community.”

Young was not only a beloved music teacher, colleague, and friend, but also a wife and mother to two young kids.

“Katherine just lit up the room,” Chartier said. “She is empathetic, inclusive, kind, and students felt very comfortable talking to her. Our music department was a family and she is very well loved by everybody.”

While working in the music department, she created classes and even organized trips for students, along with starting musicals up again.

“She was just this fantastic person, one of those people that shines bright in your life,” Music Boosters Club Vice President Paul Duhamel said. “She had this magical, almost superpower to be endlessly kind.”

A Celebration of Life for Young will be held next week, and a committee is being formed at the school to decide how to honor her legacy.

“The best way, and easiest way, to carry on her legacy is to share her smile,” Duhamel said.

A GoFundMe for Young’s family has raised nearly $5,000 of its $100,000 goal as of Wednesday night.