As the Delaware Bay waters rose with the approach of Hurricane Florence and the geese began gathering along the coastal plain, Linda Minear passed from this world to the dimension of peace, the floating world, on Sept. 14, 2018, at her daughter's home in Smyrna.
She had been a resident of the Cadia/Broadmeadow Nursing Home in Middletown for over three years. Due to concerns about her care, she was evaluated by a triage team and transported to Delaware Hospice for a five day respite. She was able to spend her last week in the company of a remarkable team of caregivers and found comfort, tranquility and peace.
Linda was born in Saugus, Mass. on Nov. 16, 1926. She was preceded in death by her husband Amory C. Minear who died on May 4, 2018 at the Cadia/Broadmeadow Nursing Home. She was also preceded by her father Earl Allsopp of Massachusetts, her mother Hazel E. Sherman Allsopp of Dover, her grandmother Carrie (Nana) Fish Sherman of Athol, Mass., "Uncle" Bob and "Auntie" Pauline Allison of Athol, Mass., Uncle George and Aunt Lois Sherman, of Lebanon, N.H. and various in-laws of her husband Amory's family.
Linda was raised in Athol , Mass. , by her mother Hazel and grandmother Carrie at 160 Cottage Street. Hazel and Carrie gave Linda many gifts, including a love of nature, gardening, an appreciation for the arts and a deep rooted sense of humility and compassion for others.
Linda married Amory C. Minear on July 20, 1946 in Orange, Mass. They raised four children during their marriage of 72 years; Alan Minear (Brenda McCabe of Columbia, Md., Melaine Minear of Smyrna, Clayton Minear of Wilmington, Miles Minear of Dover, and "daughter" Moira Rai Goletz of Dover, as well as five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Linda's mother and grandmother lived in the upper apartment at 160 Cottage Street and Amory and Linda and the children resided on the first floor. All of the family helped with tending to the large garden, and it became a destination for many New Englanders in search of quality plants. Amory built stone walls and a large garden shed. There was always a great deal of activity and it became a "go to" destination for locals and visitors for many years.
Due to the consolidation of several General Foods sites, and the opening of their plant in Dover, the family decided to leave New England. Those who migrated to Delaware at that time were known as "The Orange Gang", and for many years enjoyed gathering for picnics and reunions, times filled with reminiscing and sharing their stories of life's travels.
Amory and Linda Minear purchased their home at 21 Manor Drive and this modest ranch style home was their nest for over 50 years. They held the first Unitarian Fellowship meetings there until the early 70's. Their home became a haven for many friends and family members. Linda tended to her lovely flower garden until well into 2010, and Amory planted his vegetables amidst the flower beds.
Linda attended Athol High School and graduated in 1944. She worked at the Athol Public Library while in high school and thereafter until she became a nursing assistant at the Athol Memorial Hospital. She then trained to be a dental assistant and worked for Dr. Ivor P. Muzzy in Athol, and eventually became the office manager until the family's relocation to Dover.
Linda worked for the National Endowment for the Arts, and was the secretary for the Dover People's Church on S. Bradford Street, during Reverend MacCallum's tenure as minister. She also taught in various school districts as a substitute teacher.
At almost 50, she was finally able to fulfill her lifelong dream. She enrolled full time at Delaware State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, with highest honors in 1974. She then taught full time and eventually became the Director of the DAPI Program in Dover, until her retirement in 1984. If she could have, she would have continued working in the educational field even to this day!! She sought knowledge throughout her entire life. And she and Amory were caretakers of the library at the Dover Modern Maturity Center, as well as a senior center in Florida in the winter.
They delivered Meals on Wheels for years, until Linda could no longer assist.
Amory and Linda were "joined at the hip" and spent much of their earlier years camping in New England and the southern peninsula of Maryland, primarily at Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. They spent over 20 winters snow-birding near the Clearwater, Fla. area and planned their itinerary so that they could golf at various courses along the way.
Linda was a devoted wife and mother. She treated all with kindness and consideration and always, despite difficult times, managed to grace others with her lovely smile. She was an avid reader and researcher, and was well versed about many topics. She inherited her love of antique and vintage buttons from her mother and grandmother and she and Amory enjoyed venturing to flea markets and garage sales in search of these "lil treasures". She was a member of the National Button Society.
She was blessed with so many qualities and talents; a creative cook (her tomato and rhubarb pies were deeelicious), a seamstress extraordinaire, naturecrafter - creating wreaths and floral arrangements with natural materials and a whiz at playing cards!! She also enjoyed crabbing and fishing and was darn good on the golf course! She was a conscientious environmentalist, a civil rights activist, and an advocate for the elderly and disabled.
She will be missed by many, but her legacy will live on. Sundry tales about her life will be published during the spring-summer of 1919 by Luminous Publishing Consortium, P. O. Box 581, Smyrna, Delaware 19977, which will be publishing self help guides for residents in long term care facilities and their supporting advocates. The seeds of her legacy are planted and discussions have commenced relative to the need for an increase in advocacy for elders, in order to ensure that State and Federal Resident Rights, and standards of care are being upheld.
Heartfelt thanks to all of the angels from Delaware Hospice, High Mark/Blue Cross Transition Team, DHSS, Always Best Care, Delaware Ombudsman, and friends Kay and Jennifer and Rai. You lifted her up...and brought her to safety, comfort and peace. We shall never forget!!
Interment will be private. Her cremation remains will be interred with her husband Amory at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Camden, and also at the gravesite of her mother and grandmother in Athol, Mass. Arrangements are by the Torbert Funeral Chapel in Dover. Friends and family are invited to visit Linda and Amory's pages on their website, www.torbertfuneral.com. Inquiries regarding the family may be emailed to melaineminear@comcast.net.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to Delaware Hospice or the Delaware
Victim's Service Fund P.O. Box 430 Dover, DE 19903, or a charity of your choice. Your contributions are sincerely appreciated.