Linda Stempel Gicewicz

Dateline: Saratoga Springs, NY

Linda Stempel Gicewicz, a tribute. Linda left this world suddenly in the early hours of Thursday, August 28, 2025. She was 66 years young. Because of the quick actions of her daughter Sarah Gicewicz, the first responders, and the ICU Nurses at Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs, NY, Sarah, Linda's sister Sandra, brother-in-law Tommy and a handful of friends were able to be with her during her last heartbeats of life.

Linda wailed her first hello to her parents, the late Rudolph and Sheila (Rapp) Stempel, on April 15, 1959, in Cobleskill, NY. Within the first few years of her life a diagnosis of epilepsy would be discovered and layer her path with a combination of safe or slippery stepping stones to cross.

Early on Linda cultivated the Stubborn Stempel Spirit. As her daughter Sarah would repeatedly confirm, "Yeah, my Mom was stubborn."

Even after enduring repeated unkindnesses from some of her classmates at Berne Knox Westerlo Central School, Linda didn't cave in - belting one classmate in the gut after another mate stood up for her.

The Stempel grit stood out again and again as Linda refused to quit. Staying the course to graduate from BKW, passing her driving test after more than a couple attempts and doing what needed to be done as she faced numerous challenges and struggles. Having both her daughters whisked away to the NICU unit at birth was one of those challenges landing on her plate.

Linda grew up in East Berne, NY. She worked for a short time at her parents' family Sawmill business before landing in Clifton Park after her marriage and eventually taking a job at Wendy's for several years. Linda was an active member of the Eastern Star when she joined Uhai Chapter in Berne, NY and took on the role of Matron for one year. She was also an avid CB Radio user during this time. A hobby that led to meeting her future husband, Paul Gicewicz.

Linda enjoyed word puzzles, loved angels and had a flair for the adult coloring craze. One Christmas everyone in her circle received a meticulously colored animal page as a gift. Being able to share gifts to each family member during the Christmas holiday brought great joy to Linda. Those receiving her carefully wrapped gifts knew they would be challenged to get to the prize inside as they fought through layers of scotch tape.

Having a fondness for Winnie the Pooh, AKA Poosie in Linda speak, the family knew they would score a homerun when gifting Linda anything Pooh related. Likewise was her fancy toward England's Royal Family. In fact, the first two pieces in her 1986 self-published collection of poems, "Feelings From Within," are dedicated to Prince Charles and his wife and Queen Elizabeth respectively.

From Linda's poem collection:

Take Time To Live

You are boxed in so take the chisel

and chip away.

Slowly you will see the world beyond.

And when you are finally free, you

Will be able to live again.

It will take time, but you will

Know when you are ready.

For now, enjoy the beauty that you can see. (las)

Linda, you are now free. May you rest peacefully. Love, your family.

The family wishes to thank the first responders, all the caring staff in the ICU at Saratoga Hospital and Kathleen from Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home in Ballston Lake who took care of Linda's final details in an efficient and kind manner.

Linda is survived by her two daughters, Charlotte Gicewicz who she was the sole caretaker of and Sarah Gicewicz; siblings Catherine Appleby (Arthur), Brian Stempel (Kathleen), Sandra Kisselback (James); sister-in-law Tammy Stempel; a slew of nieces & nephew's from both the Stempel and Gicewicz family trees.

Linda was predeceased by her husband, Paul Gicewicz; parents Rudolph and Sheila (Rapp) Stempel; brothers Eric and Greg Stempel.

A Remembering of Linda is being planned by the family for a future date.

The best way you can honor Linda's life is to think of her children Sarah and Charlotte in any way you think best. They have a tough road ahead.