Jeanette Link

1919 - 2015

Jeanette Link
Resident of San Jose
Jeanette Caroline DiGiovenale Link, affectionately known as Mom, Mother, Ma, G-Ma, GG-Ma, Mammie, Grandma, Grandma Mother, Namaw, Great Grandma, DiGiovenale, Aunt Jeanette, Jeanette, Gee, Ginetta and Sorelli, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2015 at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose after a short illness. She is now in heaven with her mother, father, husband and brothers and sisters who preceded her in death.
She is survived by her six children: Carole (Link) Clark of San Jose, CA; Jeanne (Link) Paris of Campbell, CA; Patricia (Link) Winter of Highlands Ranch, CO, Dr. Joseph Link of Folsom, CA; David Link of Colleyville, TX and Teresa (Link) Monaghan of San Jose, CA and 14 grandchildren: Brad Spencer, Andrew Clark, Katherine (Clark) Reggans, Daniel Paris, Jennifer (Paris) Silvas, Anne-Michelle (Paris) Frances, Michael Paris, Lynne Winter, Paula Winter, Laura Winter, David Link, Sarah Link, Joey Link and Stephen Link. She is also survived by her 20 great grandchildren including the youngest, great granddaughter Layni Frances, who was born in 2015 on Jeanette and Harold's wedding anniversary, August 22.
Jeanette was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 21, 1919. She was the fourth of five children with two older sisters, Teresa and Edythe, an older brother, Louis and a younger brother, Lawrence. Her parents, Carolina Bellagamba and Attiliano DiGiovenale, emigrated to the U.S. from Italy in 1909. Jeanette was a child of the Great Depression and this greatly shaped her values. She could not waste anything, especially food. She used coupons as often as possible and tried to not buy anything unless it was on sale. It was a particularly good day if she could buy something on sale and use a coupon and she loved to share her stories of saving money.
Jeanette graduated from St. Mary High School in Cincinnati in 1938. She met Harold Leonard Link at Fort Scott, a summer camp in Cincinnati run by the Catholic Church where she was a secretary and he was a counselor. Harold's twin brother Joseph introduced them. Harold taught chemistry at Santa Clara University from 1938 to 1944. Jeanette and Harold were married in 1942. Jeanette then moved to Santa Clara with Harold and in 1943 their daughter Carole was born. In 1944, they moved to Cincinnati where Harold worked for FMC. Jeanne was born in Cincinnati and shortly after, the family moved to Hoopeston, Ill. Joseph, Patricia and David were born in nearby Danville, Ill. Jeanette was a devout Catholic throughout her life who rarely missed Sunday mass with family. She loved doing the laundry and took great pride in it. She used to say that when she grew up, she wanted to be a step mother and a laundress. She was known by those less fortunate in the area for cooking breakfast and making sandwiches for anyone that would come to her back doorstep and ask. It was in Hoopeston where she learned to play bridge. She was an excellent bridge player and played for many years. No one wanted to play against her because she was so good and was very competitive.
The family moved to San Jose in 1962 when Harold accepted a promotion with FMC. Their daughter Teresa was born in San Jose. It was during this time that Jeanette first took a family trip to Lake Tahoe and discovered gaming. Her favorite was the slot machines. Lake Tahoe would become a very special place in the Link family for many family reunions, a family wedding, Jeanette and Harold's 55th wedding anniversary celebration (1997) and many family summer vacations.
In 1975, FMC transferred Harold to Lakeland, Florida and Jeanette and Teresa also moved to Lakeland. Teresa moved back to California in 1981 while Jeanette and Harold stayed in Lakeland until 2000. For 38 years (1943 to 1981), Jeanette raised her children, her most important and cherished role. Jeanette and Harold loved living in Lakeland because of the slower pace of life and Southern hospitality. After Jeanette and Harold moved back to San Jose for the last time in 2000, after living in Lakeland for 25 years, whenever Jeanette would think of Lakeland, she would always say that she missed living there.
Jeanette touched the lives of many with her sense of humor, feistiness and generosity. Her passing has left a significant void for those that knew and loved her and she is greatly missed.
Services were held on October 22, 2015 at St. Leo the Great Parish in San Jose.


View the online memorial for Jeanette Link