Rebekah Rose (Vargo) Young

Rebekah “Becky” Vargo Young, 33, passed away Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Easton, following a years-long battle with addiction.

Born July 24, 1986 in Johnstown, she was the daughter of Alan Vargo and Cindy (Ober) Scomak.

She was preceded in death by her Aunt Linda Means and her grandparents: Arthur Tedrow, Rosemary Ober, John Vargo and Josephine Vargo.

A talented artist, Becky graduated from the Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts in York and briefly worked as an interior designer for Jonathan’s Fine Furniture and Decor, Harrisburg. She also was a server at several area restaurants.

In addition to being an artist, she was a gifted writer and poet who could easily have been published.

Surviving is her father, Alan “Fud” Vargo (and his wife, Doris), Middletown; her mother, Cindy Scomak (and her husband, Bobby), Harrisburg; 2 daughters: Emma C. Romberger, Harrisburg and Brielle A. Rhoads, Lemoyne; 2 sisters: Amy Jo King (and her fiancé, David Pollino), Johnstown and Traci M. Morris (and her husband, Chris), Parkersburg, WV; her maternal grandfather, Bryan Ober, Johnstown; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and other family members and friends.

Despite being loved by her family, Becky’s struggle with drugs began in her teen years. Although she was able to escape her addiction on occasion, eventually the powerful lure of artificially induced detachment proved too strong for her to fight and ultimately caused a great loss for her beloved family. This (and the opioid epidemic), hopefully, should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone considering drug use for the first time or battling it, as she did.

Never Say Never

I never thought I'd live my life with a needle in my arm.

I never meant to treat loved ones this way or cause any person harm.

I never could have seen myself being a junky at 17.

I sometimes wish that when I open my eyes all this would be a dream.

I never imagined that I would do what I have done just to get high.

I never wanted addiction to be a reason I could die.

I never planned on throwing my life completely down the drain.

I never took the time to think what I was getting myself in.

So never say never because you may be like me living a life I Never wanted to be.

(Never Say Never by Lisa - Family Friend Poems)

The silver lining in this heartbreaking situation is that four people will have a new lease on life following Becky’s organ donation through the Gift of Life program.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to GoFundMe account set up for the girls: https://www.gofundme.com/f/what-will-the-children039s-story-be

No services will be held at this time.

Kimmel Funeral Home, Harrisburg, is handling arrangements.