In Memoriam.ca - Always in our hearts

Photo album

Memorial candle

  • Ray Lantz lit a candle on 05/24/2015:
    "Goodbye Nancy - you will be sadly missed but never forgotten."

  • Helen Hardy lit a candle on 05/25/2015:
    "Goodbye Nancy,my best friend for45 years,I will never forget you and you will always be in my heart. I sure will miss you."

  • Shelley MacNevin lit a candle on 06/21/2015:
    "We miss you Mom, you will forever be in our hearts❤️"

Legacy

About Nancy Linkletter

Celebrating the Life of My Mom
December 28, 1947 – May 10, 2015
By Heather Linkletter
My mom gave us – Shelley, Michael and I – a lot in her lifetime. We wish we could have had her with us much longer, and we know she also felt that her time with us ended up being too short. This is, however, a fact of life and this too was something she talked about very openly. There are so many things that she taught us along the way, and so many experiences she had, it is hard to try and consolidate all of it into a brief sentiment….but I’m going to try.
My mom enjoyed her childhood years growing up on Granville Street with her 2 sisters Dianne and Bev, and brother Elmer.  She had many friends - many of those friendships lasting a lifetime…..many of you are here today.   She kept herself out of mischief by playing baseball and tennis, writing plays for the neighborhood ‘backyard theatre’, and roller skating…not roller BLADING. I recently learned of a couple of stories about what it was like ‘being mom’s sister’ ….. tormenting her 2 sisters by chasing them around with worms, and chasing down a stranger at the door during an evening of baby-sitting.   Mom always was one who never backed down from a challenge – she was brave and she stood her ground. This early trait carried into the lessons she later would teach us as children and carried her through these past few months.
On a night at a Summerside High School dance, her sister Dianne shoved her into a young man named David Linkletter….that little push was all that was needed to establish a spark that would ignite a 50 year match made in heaven! Nancy and David became engaged on Easter Sunday 1965 and they were married on September 11th of that year. They were young, not of legal drinking age – they had to have someone purchase a bottle of wine for their honeymoon – which it turned out, neither one of them really liked anyway.
Together, they moved to the farm on Linkletter Road and began their journey through life together raising three children – myself (Heather), Shelley and Michael, instilling the values of hard work, standing up for yourself and others, selflessness and love of family, always encouraging their independence and creativity along the way.   She absolutely believed in the equality of all people –especially in political, economic, and political life – she expected us to live our lives the same.
My mom spent countless hours in a cold rink watching figure skating, sleepless nights awaiting that notable `squeak` on the stairs indicating a safe arrival home, and many a loud squeak on the bagpipes!   Among our friends from around the world from their youth to present day, mom had an impact – welcoming them all into her home as part of her family. She provided a lot of advice to us all – whether we wanted it or not J As we grew up, mom saw us through good dates, bad dates – always relishing in being part of the process – from choosing an outfit to wanting to know the skinny on how the whole evening turned out. She was so excited to see us living our lives and as we experienced new things, she experienced them with us.   
Mom experienced so much  joy with the arrival of her grandsons Morgan and Mitchell, and spent countless hours supporting and encouraging them….many of her biggest smiles can be found in the photos of her having fun with `her boys`.
Mom was fond of often quoting the second verse from the poem "The Day is Done" which she had had to learn by heart as a little girl.  She was also fond of telling the story of how one day while she and dad were driving Morgan somewhere, something sparked her to say the verse out loud. No sooner did she say it when a small voice chimed from the back seat, "Wow, that was deep Nana."
Mom excelled at many creative endeavours and hobbies, and always encouraged the same among her children – cake decorating, crafts, reading, music and painting. As her kids, we all took different paths in our lives, but every one of us carry her passion for creative expression. In addition to raising her family, mom worked in a variety of jobs: Dixie Lee (she always said she learned to swear there), Canadian Tire, Sears Customer Service, Avon, The Bookmark, and also as Co-Owner/Operator for Parkview Motel & Cottages (and, if you don’t know – she was getting a little tired of that job J). She loved working at anything that involved the public – people….she loved people – and their complexities. 
Mom loved flowers, handmade goods, rainbows, animals, salt water taffy (the black ones), lobster and donair pizza – not all together! She loved music – Anne Murray, and Celtic Thunder were her favorites, although recently she seemed to start getting into some Taylor Swift and Macy Gray. One day about 2 months ago I was frustrated by something & she told me to do what Taylor Swift does and “just shake it off – shake it off”….I thought that was so funny! She loved fashion - she was not ready to go anywhere unless she had a good pressed outfit on, her make-up-especially the lipstick and don’t forget those earrings & shoes.   She had just started with Red Hatters – the Pearlie Girlies – before her diagnosis. She and I spent time on the phone coming up with a name – if she had of continued, she would have taken the name Duchess Abigail Sinclair.
Mom was diagnosed with advanced cancer in late July 2014 and refused to act or look sick. She was determined to live her remaining days fully.   She handled everything remarkably and through it all, very few people knew just how sick she was. She was excited to even get a wig – commenting that she needed more than one “like the movie stars”. 
Mom & Dad would be celebrating their 50th anniversary in September of this year, so with the diagnosis, they celebrated all year. The 50th anniversary of their engagement was on Easter weekend. With a thumbs up from her doctor, she took her 2nd ‘chemo break’ and she and dad made plans to celebrate the engagement anniversary with a trip to Hawaii (mom always had a thing for Elvis’ Blue Hawaii) – stopping in at my place in Edmonton on the way.  I had the great opportunity to travel with mom & dad and was overwhelmed by the zest she had in experiencing everything that vacation had to offer.   Only 4-5 weeks ago she was motoring down Waikiki Beach on a scooter that said “Rent Me for $150/week” on the front of it, getting a parakeet to rest on her head…..laughing her head off that it would take off with her wig J I’m happy she was so well, and her ‘bad days’ through this, were few. 
While she was in the hospital over these last 2 weeks, she enjoyed so many visits and really loved the hospital staff. One day my sister was there during a visit from the clergy at the Hospital. While speaking with him she told him of her trip to Hawaii, and then mentioned she purchased some ‘flip flop magnets’ to bring back to all the Hospital staff – she must have purchased over 20 of these. She said to the minister “I have to admit, I told David I got these for $2 each…they were actually $4.99…I lied to him”….with the minister responding with a laugh “that’s quite ok dear; I’m not here to take your confession”.
Mom will be so missed by us – dad, Shelley, Michael, Morgan, Mitchell, Norman, Steve and I – along with her many friends. She had a large presence, she had an impact, and she affected so many people.  I think that’s a pretty good life.