Linda Grace

Linda J. Grace (née Walther), 65, passed away on January 25, 2026, at her home in Manalapan, New Jersey.

Born in Jersey City, Linda moved with her family to Manalapan in 1965. Manalapan was the only home she ever truly knew.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Grace, as well as her parents, Ruth and Robert Walther.

Linda is survived by her devoted daughters, Christine Gallagher (husband Justin) and Allison Grace (fiancé George Mariolis), as well as her sisters, Janet, Robyn, and Cheryl.

She was affectionately known as “Linda Pinda,” and to many simply as “Pinda.”

A graphic designer by trade, Linda worked for many years in advertising. Her career included advertising design work for Vinet, Pulsar Graphics, and the Route 9 Shopper. As a young woman, she also spent time working in an art gallery and the Englishtown Auction.

In her later years, she devoted herself fully to caring for her husband through his illness, a role she took on with unwavering love. He was her best friend, and they shared 30 years of marriage. His death closed a chapter in her life that had held her greatest love.

Linda was deeply emotional and deeply caring. She was the quiet architect of magic in her children’s lives. Every holiday, every school project, every moment of wonder was shaped by her creativity and care. She poured herself into crafts, handmade details, and thoughtful touches that made celebrations feel special and personal. Christmas Morning, the Tooth Fairy, Easter baskets, and all the small enchantments of childhood were real because of her. What felt magical to others was, in truth, her love at work.

Remembering mattered deeply to Linda. She spent countless hours preserving family history through her Ancestry research and served as the administrator of the Facebook group “In Memory of Our Manalapan Classmates.” A member of the Manalapan High School Class of 1978, she took special care to ensure that former classmates who had passed away were named, honored, and not forgotten.

Linda found comfort in quiet routines and familiar stories, especially I Love Lucy and Little House on the Prairie. She cherished the peaceful life she shared with her husband, surrounded by nature, tending to her yard and finding joy in the birds and stillness around her. She held a special fondness for bald eagles.

Her legacy lives on in her daughters, in the memories she preserved, and in the care she took to ensure others were not forgotten.

At this time, her daughters will honor Linda privately.

Linda and her husband Bob will be laid to rest together. Interment and celebration of Linda’s life will be held when weather allows.