LINDA MAE BURGESS (ALDRIDGE)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

LINDA MAE BURGESS
(nee ALDRIDGE)

The Burgess and Aldridge family are utterly heartbroken to announce the passing of Linda Burgess, of Crystal City, Manitoba, on January 15, 2021, after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 69 years old.
Linda was born on April 22, 1951 at the old Grace hospital and lived her youthful years on Fisher Street in the Riverview district of Fort Rouge. She graduated from Churchill High School in 1969, and attended University of Manitoba.
Over the years, she enjoyed big family gatherings with guests that included many aunts, uncles and cousins on Fisher Street. There was never a shortage of entertainment as Linda played the piano, as well as tap danced with her brother (Chris), sister (Shirley) and cousin (Wendy). When she was 11, she and her brother Chris were on the Santa Claus parade float as tin soldiers, which is still a memorable moment held by her family. The Aldridge Cottage (Uncle Toms Cabin) at Grand Beach is where Linda's summers were spent. It was an integral part of her life, as her extended family came often and they created a lifetime of memories. It was at Grand Beach where she caught the eye of a lifeguard named Bruce, the love of her life, who became her husband on July 5,1975.
Crystal City, Manitoba is where Linda and Bruce established their foundation and stayed for the next 46 years. It was Bruce's job at Thomas Greenway School that led them to the tiny southwestern town. Starting off in a mobile home, then moving to the house that they raised their two children, David and Brian. In 1986, Linda took her skills and passion for children into the schools and became an Educational Assistant. Although she retired from the division several years ago, she never stopped loving the school setting and she subbed until the spring last year.
Linda loved life to the fullest. She was a people person and loved socializing. She was part of The Red Hat Society with whom she travelled.
Linda spent many hours volunteering, wherever her boys were participating in activities. The hockey rink, the curling rink, the school, UCW, the local foodbank and the Rock Lake Pastoral Charge Church to name a few.
Linda always loved a good celebration and she was never short on creativity. She was known for her treats, songs and skits for staff at the schools, birthday parties, anniversaries and New Years. She was a crafter at heart and enjoyed ceramics, baking and knitting. She was famous for her Christmas stockings, sweaters, mitts and toques that were always cherished by all.
Teaching and patience came naturally to Linda. She never shied away from teaching her grandchildren a new game, how to bake and has shared the gift of making vinertarta with family and friends from the prairies to the coast. Linda was a "go go" kind of gal but also knew how to relax and devour a good book. Linda loved her bike, her treadmill, and her new found sport of pickleball. One of Linda's other favourite hobbies was travelling. She and Bruce journeyed all over the world together, enjoying the food and culture of wherever they were. They often took friends or family to their time shares and with the last trip being an extra special trip to Florida with her grandchildren.
Lindas greatest pride and joy were her grandchildren. She always made sure there were holiday gadgets sent in the mail, along with birthday cards and gifts. Linda was great at playing board games and creating Tic Tok dances with them and has passed on her gift of knitting and baking to them. Linda never passed up an opportunity to spend time with them. She never passed up a snuggle and travelled the world to get them.
Crystal City brought many friends into Linda's life. She considered them family. Her CC family raised their children together, swapped stories over cards, shared 100's of recipes and looked after each other like no other. They laughed, they cried and some lost loved ones. Most importantly they looked after each other like a family does. Chris and Jim, Cathy and Ken, Barb and Leo, Margaret and Frank and of course her "twin" Leslie will deeply miss Linda, but her memory shall be in their hearts forever.
The people Linda leaves behind to cherish and hold her memory are her grandchildren, Ethan, Ruby, Tomas and Kjerstin. Her children, David (Bonnie), and Brian. Her brother Chris and sister Shirley (Harry). Her sister-in-law Kristine (Trevors) and family and brother-in-law Glen. Her niece "just like a daughter" Jona (Brent). She is predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Anne, as well her husband Bruce.
The sudden and untimely loss of someone so much a part of our lives, has left us with an empty and saddened feeling. Today memories are painful; tomorrow, those memories will bring a smile to our face and warmth to our healing hearts. Mom, sister, Aunty; farewell, until we meet again.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to the CancerCare Manitoba or The Manitoba Kidney Foundation. In the future when Covid restrictions are lifted, family and close friends will gather to celebrate Linda's life.

Make a donation to

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 30, 2021