Linda Zars

Linda (Johnson) Zars, 76, of Bloomfield, CT, the wife of Juris Zars, left her earthly home at Hartford Hospital, December 23, 2013, the day of their 52rd Wedding Anniversary. The daughter of the late Mildred and Henning Johnson, born in Hartford, CT, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Pembroke College. Was on the faculty of King Philip Junior High School, where she met her husband, but retired after many years of service as an artist and a proofer at the Yankee Flyer. Member of the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, The Phi Beta Kappa Society, Dun Land Woods Garden Club, Simsbury Camera Club, American Hemerocallis Society, The Connecticut Horticultural Society and former member of the African Violet Society. As a member of the local Pembroke club, she was honored to be the first woman to be served dinner at the Hartford Club. She is survived by her daughter Valerie Zars and husband Mark Kramer of Hallandale, FL and their daughter Tess Kramer of Los Angeles, CA; her son Erik and Nadine Zars with their sons Tyler and Gregory of New Fairfield, CT. She leaves her cousins Elizabeth Whitehill of South Dennis, MA; Joyce Cooper of Manchester, CT; Lloyd and Kay Hevenor of Manchester, CT; Ronald and Marlene Goldstein of East Longmeadow, MA; Phyllis Allen of Walhalla, SC; and Margie and Karl Koboski of Seneca, SC. Linda lives now through our memories, the people who worked with her at the Yankee Flyer, those who she met at the African Violet Society and the Dun Land Woods Garden Club, her lifelong friends, the Wittmers, Sweeneys, Kennedys. She never traveled by air, but you would not know she had never been around the world for she was well read and her interests ran wide, she could take you on many journeys just by one conversation. Always concerned with sharing, she was a Teacher at heart, and never left a room without blessing it with her grace and kindness. Missed by her family and remembered by friends, Linda was a Wife, Mother and ultimately a woman who lived a life by caring for others, without weakness. She can rest now in our hearts, her struggle is past. Calling hours will take place at Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, 136 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT from 4 to 7 PM on January 3rd. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Congregational Church, 10 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield, CT on Saturday, January 4th at 2 PM. Burial at Mountain View Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers the family asks donations be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association, P O Box 78960, Phoenix, AZ 85062-8960. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.