WORCESTER: Linda M. (Dykas) Cataldo, 66, of Elm St., passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, Feb. 14th. Born in Worcester, she was the daughter of L. Hugh and Phyllis A. (King) Dykas.
Linda’s greatest love in life was her family. She now joins her beloved son, Philip Cataldo, and cherished sisters, Colleen Ramirez and Elizabeth Dykas, in heaven. She will be greatly missed and forever loved by her son; Henry C. Cataldo, III and his wife Anna of Franklin, her daughter; Caitlin A. Cataldo of Oceanside, CA, her sisters; Mary Kay Hannant, Theresa Burtt and her husband Gregory, Patricia Dykas, and her brother; Leon Dykas and his wife Sunnie, all of Leicester. Linda was blessed with several nieces and nephews, and her precious granddaughter, Anna Cataldo, with whom she shared a special relationship full of love, guidance, and fun.
In her high school years, Linda played basketball and softball as well as raced snowmobiles professionally. In 1972 she was a finalist in the world series of women’s snowmobiling in Ironwood, MI. She was well known all over New England for her accomplishments on the track. She graduated in 1974 from Marian Central Catholic High School in Worcester. She attended Clark University and then began her career in finance. Linda worked at Worcester County Institute for Savings and UMass Medical Center.
In 1986, Linda and family relocated to Shattuck Saint Mary’s School in Faribault, MN where they lived and worked for over a decade. She was very active in volunteering for school functions and fundraising, and became an avid “Hockey Mom” for her son and daughter. The family returned to New England and settled in Danbury, CT. She then worked for the National Organization for Rare Disorders where she secured funding for research and development. Linda then went to work for the Veterans Affairs Hospital, which brought her back to Central Massachusetts. Linda had unshakable faith in the Lord and was an active member of Greenville Baptist Church.
The family would like to thank the UMass University Campus medical staff for their professionalism, kindness and compassion.
Family and friends are welcome to honor Linda’s life during calling hours on Sunday, February 19th from 2 p.m.–4 p.m. at the Morin Funeral Home, 1131 Main St., Leicester. We will celebrate her life with a memorial service on Saturday, Feb. 25th at 10 a.m. at the Greenville Baptist Church, 674 Pleasant St., Rochdale, with a burial to follow in the Greenville Baptist Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Linda’s memory may be made to either:
Greenville Baptist Church Benevolence Fund
P.O. Box 396, 674 Pleasant St. Rochdale, MA 01542
or linked here: (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=XVUGSADSXDH9U&source=url)
OR Girls, Inc. of Worcester
Linked here: (https://www.girlsincworcester.org/donate).