Linda Jorgensen

1949 - 2016

Linda (Smith) Jorgensen, of Moreau, died peacefully in her home on Friday, December 9, 2016, at the age of 67, surrounded by her loving family. Linda was born on May 26, 1949 in Schenectady, New York to George and Madeline Smith. She graduated from Guilderland High School in 1967, and soon after married her high school sweetheart, Robert Jorgensen, in 1968. She and Robert had two sons, Todd and Shawn. Linda worked in many fields, but her last employer was Union College, where she worked to allow her children to get a better education than she could afford to give them otherwise. She worked in different departments at the college, but found her home in the Math department, where she was a devoted and valued secretary and assistant to the wonderful Professors and students of the department. Linda was very intelligent and capable, but humble person who avoided the spotlight. Because of this, her talent was most evident when working behind the scenes to help others achieve their goals. Her proudest example of this was helping her children achieve their educations through Union and Albany Medical College, which could never have happened without her lifetime of sacrifices. Linda was knowledgeable and well-read in many areas, particularly history and politics. Her favorite past time was spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family at her camp on Great Sacandaga Lake, and her home on the Hudson River. For Linda, any day spent by the water was a day well spent. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren play soccer, basketball, softball and baseball, and never missed a game. She was accomplished and creative with the sewing machine and loved to garden. She will be remembered by the special gifts she hand-made for her family. She particularly loved her dog, Sage, who never left her side. There will forever be an empty seat at the soccer games, in the upstairs porch at camp, and in her sunroom at home that can't be filled. Her deep connection to her friends and family was shown by the extraordinary lengths they went through to visit and help her during her illness; whether flying across the country to visit, building a sun room in record time, changing travel plans and rearranging holidays to make sure she was included. Linda is survived by her two sons, Todd and his wife, Laurie, and their children, Bryce and Troy Jorgensen of Queensbury and Shawn and his wife, Stephanie, and their children, Erik, Vanessa and Rachel Jorgensen of Moreau; her siblings, Robert Smith of Schenectady, Joanne Salerno of Sasser, Georgia and Susan and her husband, Herb Eschbach of Amenia. Though technically in-laws, Peter and Noreen Jorgensen, Ed and Nancy Kislowski, and Judy Vaccaro were her brothers and sisters in every way. She was very close to her many nieces and nephews and their families, including David and Steven Kislowski, Wendy Staggers, Brian and Darren Ashworth, Chad and Bret Jorgensen and Kristen, Dan and Brian Vaccaro. A private memorial service for family and close friends will be held at Regan and Denny Funeral Home, 94 Saratoga Ave., South Glens Falls on Sunday, December 18 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Save the Children at www.savethechildren.org/NY-Bangladesh. The family would like to thank everyone who showed kindness to Linda, especially the Math Department at Union College; and in particular those who went the extra mile for her during her illness, including Dr. Alex Frank, Dr. Makenzie Evangelist, Dr. Noelle Stevens, the staff at Adirondack Radiology Associates, Dr. David Jones and Dr. David Jackman at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the staff of The Community Hospice. Those who wish may make online condolences by visiting our website at sbfuneralhome.com.