Linda A. Fontana, 65, of Whitestone, NY, left this life peacefully on Tuesday, May 29th, at her home in Stoneham, MA, following a 2 ½ month battle with pancreatic cancer. She had just celebrated her 65th birthday with her close family and spent her last days with her husband, daughter, grandchildren, and sisters.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Linda attended Richmond Hill High School, in Richmond Hill, NY, and as a conscientious, motivated student, proceeded to be the first girl in her family to go to college. She graduated Magna Cum Laude as a Math major from Queens College, NY, and worked for AT&T, Bell Labs as a Computer Programmer for several years after graduation. She always took much pride in her academic and career accomplishments, and always strived for perfection. Several years later, she continued her education and received her teaching certification and Masters Degree in Education, so that she could become a High School Computer Science Teacher at Great Neck North High School in Great Neck, NY, a career that she found more conducive to being there for her daughter and family. As much as she loved computers, she loved her students even more, and found it very rewarding. She retired 2 years ago from teaching, after touching the lives of her many students, other teachers, and so many others that she crossed paths with over the years.
A private person, and sometimes very serious natured, Linda also loved to laugh with her close family and friends, and she had many interests. She loved traveling, cooking, movies, reading, technology, music, and shopping with her daughter. She was a very independent, self-sufficient, take charge person and could do anything she put her mind to, even teaching herself to knit, play keyboard, and using new technology. The most selfless of people, Linda put her family first, and she found the most joy and happiness in being a Mommy and Grandma, spending time with her 3 grandchildren, daughter, and husband of 41 years.
Linda is survived by her loving and devoted husband, John Fontana; her daughter and best friend, Lisa Fontana Hough, of Winchester, MA; her 3 precious grandchildren, Jonathan, Matthew, and Amanda, to whom she was like a second mother; and her 2 sisters, Carol Bay of New York, NY, and Diane Manno of Burlington, VT.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral mass on Friday, June 1st at 11:30am at St. Mary’s Church, at 155 Washington Street, Winchester, MA. Services will conclude at Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum at 250 High Street, Waltham, MA. A Memorial Mass will also be held at St. Mel’s Church , Flushing, NY, at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be sent to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Suite D1220, Boston, MA 02215-5450, ATTN: Dr. Jennifer Chan Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.