Obituary of Linda Joyce McDonald
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Linda, a beacon of love, kindness and strength, who departed from this world on April 29, 2024 at the age of 80.
Beloved wife of the late Bruce (2012). Dear mother of Tracey (Jeff) Larsen of Mooretown and Lorrie (Joe) Rutherford of Point Edward. Loving nan of Brad (Kelly) Anderson and McKenna Larsen. Cherished great-nanny of Brynlee, Alanna and Colby Anderson. Dear sister of Jean (late Doug) Arbour of Chatham and Bill (Barb) Gibson of Dresden. Dear aunt of Shawn and Mike Gibson. Fondly remembered by sisters-in-law Carole (late Stan) Cernanec, Dolores (Stuart) Pugh, Marlene (Harold) Harvey, Catherine (late Harry) McDonald and Connie (late Lee) McDonald as well as Stuart (Cathy) Craig. Warmly remembered by many nieces and nephews. Best friend of Betty Brown with whom she shared many a road trips starting with destination unknown. Left to carry on the card parties are her friends Jerry and Nancy Vanwyk, John and Sheila Redden, Murray and Betty Brown and Ruth McCormick. Predeceased by her siblings John, Donald, Ann and Lorne; nephew Randy Gibson; son-in-law Jim Anderson (1998) and niece Teri Craig (1994).
Linda was born on her family farm on Hughes Line, 5th Concession of Camden Township just outside of Dresden, She was the 5th of 7 children born to parents Robert Gibson and Dora May (nee Shaw) Gibson. She attended SS Union #2 schoolhouse as a child and later Dresden High School. She went on to train as a surgical nurse and worked at Chatham General and later St. Joe’s in Sarnia before marrying her high school sweetheart Bruce in 1965 at the Rutherford Presbyterian Church. Dad had an entrepreneurial mindset even as a young man and purchased the Rutherford Garage and with it came the house in Petrolia they called home for nearly 60 years. She often said that it’s not where she would have picked to live but it soon became home. Mom would always “bloom” where she was planted.
Growing up on the farm, mom was instilled with an incredible worth ethic. Always sharing as they didn’t have much but there was always a bounty of food at the dinner table and our nanna would feed any soul that walked through the doors of the old farmhouse. That generous heart and love of cooking our mom also inherited. She would whip up a gourmet meal or water down the soup. She made it all look effortless. Mom was known for her canning of preserves and we will all miss her dill pickles and chili sauce as any respectable produce never stood a chance at being plucked from it’s height of freshness and into a mason jar. Never a single person would leave her house after a gathering without a full belly and a Tupperware container. That was indeed her love language.
Mom took each day as it came. She had a quick wit and sense of humour especially her one liners that would leave you in stitches for days. Mom enjoyed her life and even as her body weakened with her illness her positivity and her ‘Fighting Irish” Gibson attitude never waivered She will be missed deeply by all who knew and loved her.
A special thanks to everyone who helped mom throughout the challenges of her final days and also to her long time neighbour Jeff Campbell for his kindness and help in caring for her yard.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Linda’s Life will take place at the farm of Jeff and Tracey Larsen at a later date.
Sympathy may be expressed through donations to the Petrolia Food Bank via e-transfer to petroliafoodbank@gmail.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Badder Funeral Home & Reception Centre, Dresden.