It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our Mom, Linda, who was a devoted mother and BFF. She left us while sleeping peacefully at The Grove in Harmony. She had just celebrated her 75th birthday and had decided that she could not take another Western Pennsylvania winter.
Born to the late Richard and Elnora, Linda was the older sister of Bonita (Bonnie) Montalto, who survives. She was happily married for 22 years to Robert Bernatz, who passed away in 1994. Together they were responsible for three daughters, a Shetland pony, numerous dogs, cats, chickens and ducks, and also all the laws in Delevan, NY about having farm animals in a residential area.
She was the beloved mother of Rachel (David), Sarah (Joe) and Gretchen (Kristi). All three daughters, and also their spouses, considered Linda their best friend. They would often fight about who loved Mom the most and who Mom loved the most. The answer is still up in the air because Mom refused to answer, even when tickled.
Linda’s life was not easy, but it was lived with great resiliency, persistence and purpose. She overcame many health obstacles that resulted in continuous improvement. In hindsight, Linda was part cat as it seems she truly had nine lives.
A woman of faith, Linda had been a member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City. In recent years, she attended Calvin Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City with her daughter. She enjoyed singing hymns and attending special events.
Linda was talented in so many aspects of life. She retired from West Valley Demonstration Project, where she had worked for many years as a Nuclear Operator and Trainer. She was proud to be one of the few women who did this job. She knew the value of hard work and passed this knowledge onto her daughters.
After retirement, Linda moved to Western Pennsylvania residing in Ellwood City and Zelienople. The transition came with many challenges, as Mom thought every single road that ended in the number 88 was the same road, and it took years before she realized the difference. She was really proud when she was able to relearn how to drive and passed her driver’s test in 2013. She enjoyed the independence of being able to drive herself to places, and the staff at Barnes and Nobles enjoyed visiting with her weekly.
Linda loved a lot. She loved Taste of Home magazine almost as much as she loved her three daughters. She loved riding the Amtrak to visit Rachel and David, meeting new people along the journey. She loved Sunday dinner with Sarah and Joe, playing board games which she always won. She loved baking cookies with Gretchen and Kristi, making sure they were following the directions exactly as written.
Linda crocheted the most beautiful afghans and loved having her cat Annie sit on her lap while she worked. She loved being outside in her garden and feeding the birds. Mom loved potluck dinners, snowmen, hummingbirds, teacups and Murder She Wrote. She loved sending cards to her family and rarely missed a birthday or anniversary.
Linda loved coffee and doughnuts and road trips. And she especially loved road trips to get coffee and doughnuts. She loved the Wizard of Oz and firmly believed that Glinda was actually short for “Good Linda”. Linda loved to read and was an active member of the “Bookies” at the Zelienople Public Library.
But most of all, Linda loved life. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.
The family thanks the staff and residents at The Grove at Harmony for loving our Mom for the past 5 months. In a short time, Mom had made many new friends including Carol, Peter, Patty, Audrey, Jill, Melinda and Jason (just to name a few).
The family will receive friends from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at Boylan Funeral Home, Inc., 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople, PA 16063. A celebration of Linda’s life will immediately follow the visitation at 2 P.M. with Pastor Sean Brubaker, officiating.
You may join the livestream of the service at the following website address in your web browser: Boylanfunerals.com/gottlund.
The family is requesting that memorial donations be made in Linda’s name to the Zelienople Public Library (zelienoplelibrary.org), Butler Humane Society (butlercountyhs.org) or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF.org).
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.
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