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LINDA GERTRUDE HARDING
Born: Nov 25, 1953
Date of Passing: Mar 17, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryLINDA GERTRUDE HARDING
It is with deep sorrow and love that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother and Friend, Linda Harding, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who passed away peacefully in her sleep at Luther Home. She is survived and missed dearly by her two daughters, Jennifer Petty (Robert) and Melanie Mansfield, who she had with former spouse Michael Harding, as well as many dear friends and people whose lives were touched by her outgoing and kind nature, and her absolute love of life over her many years.
Linda was adopted shortly after her birth, by her eager, loving parents Marjorie and Hardy Poppele, who had always wanted a child of their own. They were gifted with one of the most loving and caring people that anyone could ever have asked to have in their lives, and she was relentlessly doted upon by her father and aunt Ruth. Linda was predeceased by both of her parents, her aunt Ruth Pfeifer, who was like a second mother to her, her uncle John Pfeifer, and by Johnny Stevenson, who became a dear friend and grandfather figure to her and her children later in her life.
Linda had a great love and compassion for other people and truly loved her work as a nurse until the day she retired in 2011 from Holy Family Home. She still spoke of missing her resident’s years after retiring. She made some lifelong friends in her nursing career as well, whom she loved like sisters until the very end.
For over 20 years, Linda was known to many people as their Avon lady, and she took a lot of pride in doing that as a second job, then simply a job once she'd retired from nursing. She also had a foot care service where she would go to those who had trouble caring for their own feet (for whatever reason) and give them the best care she was able. It was through this service that she met Johnny and his wife.
From early on in life, Linda greatly enjoyed dance of all kinds, though tap and ballet were two of her favorites; she also loved music of most genres and took piano lessons when she was young. She held a lifelong love of musicals and enjoyed watching them both onstage at the Concert Hall, and musical movies with her daughters. She enjoyed many summers at the family cabin out at Winnipeg Beach for a good portion of her life, both as a child and an adult, and would make trips out to Gimli just for the smoked fish and cookies at the bakery there. Over the last fifteen years especially, Linda enjoyed spending entire nights drinking and watching sappy Hallmark movies until the sun came up with her eldest daughter and wasn't shy about telling others how excited she was about those hangout nights. Linda was very much a talker and loved to chat with people whether she knew them or not, and strangers would talk with her as if they'd known her for years. She had a love of life, and of laughter, and found joy in many things. She loved butterflies and dragonflies and welcomed them gladly into the garden she had in her backyard.
When it came to animals, Linda loved them all. Sea creatures, she loved whales in particular, especially humpbacks, and even took a trip to Hawaii on a tourist research package so that she could go and see them up close. Her love of animals extended far beyond that, and she spent some of her time volunteering at the Humane Society and doing her best to contribute to Hull's Haven Border Collie Rescue. She loved and missed her darling yellow lab Sandi like a member of the family, even to her last.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either the Humane Society or Hull's Haven.
Cremation has taken place, and interment will take place at a later date.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 19, 2025
Condolences & Memories (7 entries)
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Sincere condolences to Linda's family and family of friends. Linda was a kind and gentle soul. Her spirit of giving was a blessing to all who met her. Love. Uncle Vince - Posted by: Uncle Vince (Uncle) on: Sep 06, 2025
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I was surprised and sorry to see that Linda had passed. I was hoping to speak with her again but did not get any return text or calls. She was always trying to give helpful tips and advice and always so loving. I will miss her smiles and stories. Rest in Peace Linda. I’m glad to have known you. CM - Posted by: Cindy Madden (Massage Therapist) on: May 22, 2025
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What a shock to read of Linda’s passing. Linda, her daughters & Aunt Ruth were patients at our dental clinic for many years. It was always so nice to see them and visit at the same time, Linda was never short of conversation and stories. Will always remember her as happy and smiling. So sad that she is already gone, our deepest condolences to her family and friends. May she rest in eternal peace. - Posted by: Dr. Zoltan & Janice Horvath (Dentist) on: Apr 24, 2025
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On behalf of the Winnipeg General Hospital/Health Sciences Centre Nurses’ Alumni Association we extend our sincere condolences to Linda’s family and friends on her recent passing. Linda was a 1976 graduate of the Health Sciences Centre. Her classmates remember her as being “very social, and always very helpful to fellow students. She absolutely loved the geriatric community and they loved her. She always made time for them with loving care and compassion.” She will be missed by her nursing classmates and the community in which she was so engaged. - Posted by: Carol Galbraith (Friendship Convenor WGH/HSC Nurses’ Alumni Association) on: Apr 22, 2025
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I first met Linda in 1974 when we entered HSC School of Nursing. She was always so happy and giving of her time… a real social butterfly!!! We then both got married in the summer of 1975 between 1st and 2nd year and lived in the same apartment block which was walking distance to the hospital. While our nursing professions took us in different directions we ALWAYS kept in touch through both the good times and the sad ones. We always ended our visits with ‘love you’!!! She gave the best hugs!!! I will miss you dear friend…love Dianne Boyce (Ingram) - Posted by: Dianne Boyce (Friend) on: Apr 21, 2025
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I'm very sad about Linda's passing. Gone too soon. We were acquaintances through work at Holy Family Home as well being my Avon Lady. She always loved to chat and she was always smiling. Rest in Peace Linda. It was nice to know you. ✌🏼🩷🙏🏼 - Posted by: Rosemary Wade (Holy Family) on: Apr 19, 2025
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Linda was an amazing friend through thick and thin. I have many, many childhood memories of play days, Scrappy (her first fur baby) watching her tv in her bedroom when most households maybe had one tv. The cabin was a treat, and we loved going there. She loved tv, popcorn curls, and her loving parents, and aunt Ruth and uncle Johnny. I’m sure they made a warm welcoming committee when she entered the pearly gates. Linda was kind, generous, compassionate, beautiful inside and out. I will miss her. Love you Linda ♥️ my sincere sympathy to her daughters. She loved you so very much. - Posted by: Kathy Penhall (Friend) on: Apr 19, 2025