Dear friends and family -
Our sister, wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend Linda passed away yesterday afternoon after her long illness from ALS. Linda died peacefully at home with Sid and other family members present.
Sid and Linda were married for 47 years. They met in the ICU at UVA. Linda was a nurse in the unit and Sid was a first year resident. Sid said he was immediately impressed with Linda but it took 2 years for him to get up the courage to ask her out and that Linda actually asked him if she if she could attend the Chief Resident’s dinner with him. Sid said he was very surprised and delighted with her invitation and within 2 months they were engaged.
After moving to Atlanta, Linda was asked to help set up the Cardio-Thoracic ICU at Crawford Long by a physician she had known at UVA. She also worked as a nurse in the first pediatric urology clinic in Atlanta. Linda got her Masters in Nursing at Emory and finished her nursing career as school nurse at Paideia School.
Sid said today: “Linda’s remarkable strength of character was the source of power for all of us who helped care for her these fleeting and poignant years. Ironically, she began her career in Atlanta in managing an ICU, and ended her life while managing her personal ICU in our home. It was there she came to her noble end, leaving all of us with lessons of strength well learned.”
Linda and Sid have two daughters, two sons and 10 grandchildren. There will be a memorial service for Linda at some point in the future.
Thank you each for your compassion, friendship, and support through this journey. The Stapleton's will be in touch when there are plans to gather in celebration of her life.
In the meantime, please do reach out to share your memories and best wishes. We hope you all are staying well and safe in this turbulent time.
