Linda L. Valentine, 70

Lunenburg - Linda L. (Johnson) Valentine, 70, of Lunenburg, MA died peacefully at home on April 1, 2017 after a brief illness, her husband and son by her side.

She was born in Worcester in 1946, the daughter of Herbert and Irene Johnson and was predeceased by her sister Donna and brothers Carl and David.

She is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Dr. Henry R. Valentine of Lunenburg, her son Christopher also of Lunenburg, her sister Melodee Richard of Worcester and several aunts, uncles and cousins, nieces and nephews.

She attended Worcester public schools graduating from Commerce High School in 1964.

For many years she worked as a medical secretary in Worcester and at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston where her husband Henry attended optometry school as well as other jobs wherever she lived, all the while working at home managing all the required domestic activities.

As the eldest of five siblings, she had the responsibility of caring for the others, especially for her disabled sister Donna and brother David.

She was a beautiful person, kind, generous, caring, considerate and selfless who would always help those in need, friends and strangers alike. She always thought of others first and herself last. She hated to see people cry or in distress so she would go out of her way to comfort them in any way she could. Over the years she developed many lasting friendships wherever she lived.

Linda loved to cook, and, like her mother, what an amazing cook she was. She would look forward to every opportunity to prepare scrumptious meals not only on holidays for the many guests, but on a daily basis as well. She loved nature, animals, all animals, especially dogs and horses, and the great outdoors, and as a child would look forward to going to Girls Club summer camps. She was an especially talented artist winning first prize in a statewide art contest at an early age. Although she never nurtured this talent, due to life's demands, she continued to have a keen eye for color and decoration around the house. Her love of music and dance allowed her to become a part-time dance instructor for Arthur Murray Studios for many years. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.

The family would like to thank the staff of Nashoba Nursing Service and Hospice for the care, kindness and compassion they provided to Linda and her family.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017 from 5-8 pm in the Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln St., Worcester. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 11:00 am in the funeral home. For directions or to leave an online condolence message, visit

Nordgrenmemorialchapel.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette from Apr. 2 to Apr. 3, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Linda Valentine

Sponsored by Nordgren Memorial Chapel.

6 Entries

Michael McArdle

March 27, 2021

Linda, I truly miss you, may you rest in peace. You wouldn't believe what's going on down here these days .

Michael McArdle

March 27, 2020

Linda, I still miss you and our chats we had on FB. May God grant you everlasting peace.

Michael McArdle

February 19, 2019

Still praying, missing and thinking of you Linda. Rest in Peace.

Marilyn Welton

January 5, 2019

I met Linda in Clovis, CA in 1997. I am a mental health advocate and had taken my son there for help. We became friends. I'm so sorry to hear about this. I hope Chris is all right. Your friend, Marilyn Welton

Henry Valentine

April 15, 2017

Eulogy for Linda

Delivered by Husband, Henry

When people will ask me how Linda died, I will tell them instead how she lived....

Although most of you here today know our story, let me tell you more.

We first met in Worcester in the summer of 1961 when we were just children - both only 14 years old. She was walking her beloved dog Mickey along with her friend Gail and I was with my friend, John. That day has become a day I can not forget.

For me it was love at first sight. I was smitten. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She had a natural beauty that never faded, not even after her recent illness. She would come to remain in my thoughts for the rest of my life. It would become impossible for me to not think of her every day.

From that day forward, we were truly inseparable. I even neglected my school studies, for a time at least, to be with her.

What others thought was mere puppy love slowly grew to become mature love, which never faded.

Sometimes stormy, as young love can be, we were together 9 years before we got married on New Years Day in 1970.

We have now remained married for 47 years. Yes, we had our ups and downs like all married people do. And yes, we occasionally argued about money, other trivial matters or how to best care for our son, yet we were never unfaithful to each other.

She was the love of my life, my best friend and my soul mate. She was a devoted and caring mother to our only and blessed child, Christopher, a cherished older sister to Melodee and a reliable friend to many.

As the eldest of 5 siblings, she had the responsibility of caring for the others, especially for her disabled sister Donna and brother David. She willingly volunteered to help whenever possible at the Mill Swan School where Donna and David spent their school years.

Having had the privilege of knowing Linda for over 56 years, I can truly say she was the most beautiful person I have ever known, a kind, generous, caring, considerate and selfless person who would give the shirt off her back to friends and strangers alike. She always thought of others first and herself last. She hated to see people cry or in distress so she would go out of her way to comfort them in any way she could. Over the years she developed many lasting friendships wherever she lived.

Linda was born in Worcester, the first of 5 children of Herbert and Irene Johnson. She attended several grammar schools in Worcester, then, Burncoat Junior High and finally Commerce High School, graduating in 1964.

For years she worked as a medical secretary in Worcester and at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston while I attended optometry school there as well at other jobs wherever we lived, all the while working at home managing all the required domestic chores and responsibilities.

Linda loved to cook and what an amazing cook she was. She would look forward to every opportunity to prepare fantastic meals not only on holidays at our house for the many guests, but on a daily basis as well. We never went hungry!

Linda loved nature and animals, all animals, but especially dogs and horses, and the great outdoors. As a child she would look forward to going to Girls Club summer camps. She was an especially talented artist winning first prize in a state wide art contest at an early age. Although she never nurtured this talent, as life got in the way, she continued to have a keen eye for color and decoration around the house. Her love of music and dance allowed her to become a dance instructor for Arthur Murray Studios for many years.

I would now like to ask my sister Elizabeth to read the letter she wrote to Linda during her illness...

[...read the letter...]

Linda, we will miss you. The world will miss you. Heaven will be a better place with you there and the World will be a lesser place with you gone.

Goodbye Linda, my love. Rest in Peace. Rest in Peace. I will see you in Heaven.