Floridalia (Flori, Flory) Bernier Young, 99, of Williamsburg, Virginia, departed this earth and went to Heaven on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Her legacy is one of boundless love and kindness, shared generously with her family, extended relatives, and countless friends.
Early Life, Faith and Education
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Floridalia was the daughter of Rev. Erasmo Marcelino Bernier and Rita Maria Renta Bernier. As the sixth of eight children, she remained deeply bonded with her siblings throughout her life. Raised as the daughter of a Baptist minister, she possessed a rich spiritual life and remained forever grateful to God for the many blessings she received. Her faith journey included leadership training in Stephen Ministry at First Baptist Church in Howell, Michigan and continued as a Stephen Ministry Leader at Chestnut Memorial Methodist Church in Newport News, Virginia.
Her mother, a dedicated educator, instilled in her a lifelong commitment to learning. At just 17 years old, Floridalia’s talents were recognized by the U.S. Army, which recruited her as a translator. She received a Commendation for Civilian Service for her vital work conducting benefit eligibility interviews in Spanish and translating them into English. Following high school, she attended the University of Puerto Rico and then transferred to Atlantic Christian College for her Junior and Senior years (now Barton College) in North Carolina, where she was honored as May Queen and graduated with a BA. In 1951, she attended the school of social work at the University of Puerto Rico and received her Social Work License.
Family, Relationships and Hobbies
At 17, Floridalia met Emilio Salvador Alfaro-Bou. After several years of dating, they married on Christmas Day in 1952. Together they raised four daughters and one son. Though their marriage eventually ended, they maintained a friendship and continued to share in family milestones together. In 1978, Floridalia met Charles William “Bill” Young. They shared 15 wonderful years of marriage, bonded by their love for golf and card games, until Bill’s passing on December 8, 1996.
Floridalia had quite a competitive spirit when playing ping pong. She also enjoyed painting and had a talent for crochet. She crocheted many baby blankets, lap blankets, and throws over the years. Well into her 90s, even with limited vision, she was known to crochet with her eyes closed. She happily passed down this talent to Millie, her great-granddaughter.
Professional Legacy
Floridalia’s career reflected her nurturing nature. She taught social studies and later served as a kindergarten teacher. Her true calling, however, was social work. She served in various roles across universities and the private sector, eventually managing the Catholic Charities adoption agency in Virginia, where she touched the lives of countless families.
Surviving Family
She is survived by her five children: Eileen Patterson (Roger), Erik Alfaro, Elaine Girard, Ellen Halabuk (James), and Elise Hogge (John); 7 grandchildren: Rebecca Walker (Chris), Sarah Halabuk, Philip Halabuk (Bethany), Rachel Lyman (Ben), Mark Girard, Lauren Bowman (Robert), and Marie Murray (Jonathan); 15 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; her brother, Benjamin Bernier Renta and many cherished nieces and nephews.
A Graveside Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026 at Peninsula Memorial Park, 12750 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606. Following the service, family and friends are invited to a reception to celebrate Floridalia’s life at The Freight Shed, 331 Water Street, Yorktown, VA 23690.
Directions to Reception
The drive from Peninsula Memorial Park to The Freight Shed takes approximately 20–25 minutes.
Primary Route: Exit the cemetery and head north on Warwick Blvd. Turn right onto VA-173 E (Denbigh Blvd), then take US-17 N into Yorktown. Follow Water St to the reception venue.
Alternate Route: Take I-64 W to VA-238 E, continuing onto Old Williamsburg Rd to reach the Yorktown waterfront.
