Linda Alford Obituary
Linda Alford, of Rahway, NJ, passed away April 27, 2022 at Overlook Hospital, Summit, in her family's company.
She was born in December 1949 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Dorothy and Joseph Alvarez. She was the younger of two sisters by twenty-four years, and grew up alongside two nieces. She graduated from Battin High School in 1968.
Linda is survived by her husband Jimmy Alford; children Lisa Dolinish (Chris) and Andrew Alford (Sasha); grandchildren Connor and Aidan Evans (Adriana). Linda was predeceased by her sister Laura Wright, and nieces Judy and Sandy. Sandy and Jimmy, then stationed at Fort Monmouth, were good friends who enjoyed dancing together. One evening, she invited him to a dance at the Elizabeth Y, for a blind date, saying: "Have I got the girl for you: my aunt!". The match held for 55 years.
In addition to raising two children, Linda worked various jobs throughout her life, most notably an eighteen year career at Verizon, in craft, troubleshooting, and systems support. She became skilled in whatever she touched: piano, knitting, drawing, papier-mache, gardening & birdwatching, dollhouse-building, home-decorating, and was almost entirely self-taught in all of these. She breathed the spirit of the seasons and holidays into her house and her family. She had a special gift for making broken things whole again; she ran a private "doll-hospital," restoring countless dolls and clothing them in homespun outfits. Her sugar cookies provoked family in-fighting (crisp vs. soft); her cakes and pies kept mouths full and the family peace.
Linda loved houses. As a girl, she dreamed of buying one in the Milton Lake neighborhood of Rahway, where she used to skate in winter-time. Despite several chances to move, Linda and Jimmy remained in her childhood home on Reid Street to ensure the financial security of her mother and sister. She moved into Rahway with Jimmy shortly after their retirement, in 2002.
There, she took special delight in her grandchildren Connor and Aidan, whom she watched grow into young men.
Linda's family look forward to seeing all who knew her, directly or through her family and friends, to celebrate her life. Please join us for her memorial service: Thursday May 5, 6-9PM Pettit-Davis Funeral Home 371 W. Milton Ave Rahway, NJ 07065 Flowers are welcome, or in lieu of these, you might consider donating to your local food bank or to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital (http://www.stjude.org).
