Linda J. Tedone

Linda J. Tedone

1955 - 2021

Linda Tedone 1955 - 2020 Belchertown, MA It has been a year since we lost Linda, but today on the first anniversary we owe her this. On Sunday, August 23, 2020, at the end of a courageous 5-year battle with multiple myeloma, Linda Jean (LeBlanc) Tedone of Belchertown, MA, age 65, loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully at home, in the presence, once again, of her family, her friends, and her beloved dog, Sadie. Linda is survived by her husband James Tedone, daughter Ashley Tedone, and grandson Kobe Tedone, all of Belchertown, MA; her mother, Agnes Meyer of Somers, CT; her brother Norm LeBlanc, Jr. of Ellington, CT; also by her most devoted and loving friends AnnMarie, Beth and Carleen; and of course, by her faithful, everyday companion, her dog Sadie; as well as by many cherished nieces, nephews, and extended family members. 

Linda was predeceased by her daughter Shannon Tedone, formerly of Windsor Locks, CT; her son Justin Tedone, formerly of Enfield, CT; her father Norman LeBlanc Sr., formerly of Belchertown, MA; her beloved father-in-law Jack Tedone, formerly of South Windsor, CT; and her brother-in-law and good friend, Patrick Tedone of South Windsor, CT. Linda Tedone was born June 14, 1955, at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs, CT. She would become the oldest of 4 children. Linda attended Enfield High School until senior year, when she was part of the first class to attend the newly built former Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, CT. 

Linda loved watching car racing on TV or in person – yes, that means NASCAR. She fell in love with motorsports at a young age, watching modified racecars many weekends at Riverside Park growing up; she really loved that small track. As an adult, she and her growing family spent many weekends watching their favorite drivers and cars at one local racetrack or another. Linda always said that feeling the rumble, hearing the engines roar, and smelling gas and burning rubber all made her happy. Linda was always vocal and in charge, that was the thing that made Linda, Linda. 

You were never unsure of her opinion on things, and she was quick to advise because she was always so engaged with others. She spent much of her life caring for children when she could, especially babies – she loved taking care of babies, and always talked about a job she had had for a few years at the nursery of a local gym. She used to brag that she got paid to hold babies! Linda also managed to turn a favorite hobby of hers, crochet, into a giving activity. She crocheted constantly, and even if she were doing something else, if her hands were free, she would pick up her yarn and hook. Every new mother in her extended circle received a hand-crocheted baby blanket; and other gifts flowed as well: baby booties, knit caps, christening robes, you name it. 

Gifts for other family members in the form of blankets, shawls, and comforters were thoughtfully made as well. And when charities and churches needed donations, there was Linda, making special blankets, scarfs, hats, and mittens. Linda loved to give at Christmas as well; in fact, Linda loved everything about Christmas. Around Christmastime, she spent hours and hours making cookies, perfecting recipes for delicious one-of-a-kind gifts. She baked so many batches and varieties of cookies that they numbered well into the thousands over her 40-plus years as a wife, mother, and grandmother. And although Linda's heritage and native cuisine were French-Canadian, out of love for her family she graciously learned, then mastered, the complex Italian cookie recipes handed down through generations of Tedones in Italy. Speaking of Christmas, there was Linda's Christmas tree! She demanded so many lights on her tree, there were literally thousands. 

To Linda, there were never enough lights. Often the circuit breaker being tripped was an indicator that there were, maybe, enough lights. Linda also made sure that the giant pile of gifts at home under her tree was matched by just as many for the needy. She had enormous rounds of gifts dropped off to those who needed them over the years, including countless clothes, toys, and batteries. Filling special "Santa" requests for those in need so that a child's Christmas wish would never go be unfulfilled was one of her joys. But what inspired Linda year-round, day-to-day, through the worst that life could throw at her, was raising her grandson, Kobe. As she would say, Kobe was her passion. He was intensely loved, and her commitment to and love for him was unending. 

Linda was strong, loyal, loving, funny, and kind; she was also generous, spiritual, and accepting. Linda passionately loved and accepted everyone, as fairness and tolerance were hallmarks of her being. Linda, although we are saddened that we no longer have you here with us, we take some comfort in knowing that you are reunited in Heaven with Shannon and Justin. We will always carry your memories in our hearts. Linda Tedone's funeral and interment were held in a private ceremony on August 31, 2020, at St Patrick's cemetery in Enfield, CT, fulfilling Linda's wish to be laid to rest next to her long-missed daughter, Shannon. 

To loved ones wishing to send flowers, please consider donations in her name instead, to either of the two types of charities that were dear to Linda's heart: those combating the plague of domestic violence which claimed her daughter's life, and those that combat the scourge of cancer, which took the lives of so many of her family members and eventually took Linda herself. Please send any donations instead of flowers in Linda's name to The Network Against Domestic Abuse, 139 Hazard Ave #3-9, Enfield, CT 06082. Or to The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 MA.