Linda M. (Sullivan) Kwiatek

DANVERS- Mrs. Linda M. (Sullivan) Kwiatek, 79 of Danvers, formerly of Lynn, beloved wife of the late William D. Kwiatek, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late W. Donald and Miriam (Harrigan) Sullivan. She was raised and educated in Swampscott and was a graduate of Swampscott High School. Linda continued her education at Marietta College in Ohio where she received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

Following college, Linda joined the Red Cross and was deployed to Vietnam where she worked alongside the nurses at the Army 8th Field Hospital in Nha-Trang, Vietnam during the war. Many letters were sent home to families waiting for news of their loved ones, thanks to Linda, as she helped the injured soldiers write home.

Upon returning home from Vietnam, Linda embarked on a long and fulfilling career in Education. Prior to her marriage, she worked at Washington Community School in Lynn until the birth of her children when she chose to be a fulltime mom. All her education and experiences as a young woman taught her that love, support, and guidance were the foundation of the family. She was a mother not only to her own children, but to their friends, students, through fostering or to anyone in need. Her moto was “no child left behind”.  She was a loving wife, mother, and later grandmother and great grandmother who was very involved in her children’s activities and provided a warm and loving home for them to grow. She returned to teaching at Sacred Heart School in Lynn to enable her children to go to a private high school.  Following the sudden death of her husband, Linda returned to the Washington Community School in Lynn. She remained there for over 20 years where she was a positive influence on the many young students. As a lifelong learner, Linda returned to college in her 60’s and received her master’s degree in Education from Endicott College.

Through good times and difficult times Linda persevered and always with a smile.  She was friendly, loving, and quick to make friends. She was adored by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends and will always be remembered for her kindness and generosity towards others and will be deeply missed. It can be said that Linda earned her wings long before she went to heaven.

Surviving Linda are her sons, William Kwiatek, Jr. of Boca Raton, FL, Daniel Kwiatek and his wife Krista of Danvers, Richard Kwiatek and his wife Vicki of Danvers, and Brian Kwiatek and his wife Michelle of Beverly, her 13 grandchildren: Kevin, Allison, Sophia, Kayla, Daniel Jr, Kate, Douglas, Skylar, Leo, Anthony, Madison, Manny and Brayden and her great-grandchildren, Isla, Cullen and Kambay.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral which will be held from O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St. (Rte. 62) DANVERS on Saturday, April 23rd at 10 A.M. followed by her funeral Mass at St. Richard’s Church, Forest St., Danvers at 11A.M. Burial in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Visiting hours in the funeral home on Friday, April 22nd from 4 to 7 P.M. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Linda’s memory to Covenant House International, 461 8th Ave., New York, NY 10001 or to St. Jude Children’s and Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.

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