Linda A. Gershon

Duanesburg- On June 12th, Linda A. Gershon, 77, transitioned from family matriarch to ancestor with her family by her side, never letting go of her hand. Linda was born to her loving mother, Ruby and Vincent Goodness on July 15, 1947, in the city of Orange, California. Linda always reminisced about camping at Yosemite National Park to watch the “Fire Fall”, her Siamese kitty Misty, and the amazing smells and sights of the Rose Bowl Parade. Shortly after graduating from Santa Ana High School, Linda followed her parents to Adona, Turkey where she met the love of her life, Gary. They were married in Turkey and always claimed their honeymoon was coming back to the states. Their 58-year honeymoon was a blessing to their family. They shared the good times and the troubles with the courage and support of their cherished family. In the 1970s, Linda and Gary joined the Mohawk Van Club. Together they took an empty van and converted it into the Blueberry “Muff Van” with benches that converted into a bed, complete with blue shag carpeting throughout. They enjoyed many years being Groovy at the “Truck-Ins.” Linda had many talents and passions, such as making the BEST pie crusts including her coveted pumpkin pies! Linda was an amazing seamstress; in fact, she may have even hemmed your pants! Linda made the most creative Halloween costumes, from the matching glittered butterflies to one of Linda’s greatest seamstress honors: making her daughter’s wedding dress (even though she had broken her arm) and it was beautiful. In 2003, Linda was thrilled to move into their 3-acre home where she began the tradition of her homemade Halloween parties, planting trees, flowers, a large vegetable garden and her famous rock gardens. All those discarded antiques you see on the curbs, well they were “saved” and brought back to life. Linda always wanted a swimming pool, and her dream came true in their new home floating the summer days away. As alluded to earlier, Linda was a “home chef.” Linda was so proud that Aunt Lena Gershon mistook her homemade potato salad as Gershon’s. That “chef medal” didn’t stop there. Linda’s specialties included Passover tzimmes and charoset, Russian tea cakes, peanut butter cookies (with the fork cross hatch marks), peanut butter – Choco oatmeal no-bake cookies, “messy” bars, SWEET tea, her secret recipe salmon spread and decorated birthday cakes for her children and grandchildren, from castles to fire hydrants. Linda also had the painting bug and painted Peanuts characters to decorate her daughters’ room to painting a big ol’ ladybug on her car. And then there was the camping that brought all of Linda’s talents together: cooking, making Acorn people, washing the babies in the dish bucket, and sitting by the campfire drinking a ½ beer shared with Gary. Another quite unique talent in finding the perfect size of Tupperware container for leftovers – Every. Single. Time! Armed with a plethora of vacuums, Linda’s vacuuming passion ensured that dust stood no chance of survival. Linda’s menagerie of pets included taking in stray cats, saving birds, a variety of dogs (Izzy being her favorite), and several goldfish (some of which lived 10+ years). Taking care of her fur kitty babies (Lizbeth, Ivy, Shady Lady, Stein, Ben, Manny, Mazel) earned her the esteemed title of “Crazy Cat Lady.” When Linda wasn’t helping to raise her grandchildren, sewing, baking, or weeding, she was on the back of Gary’s Harley Davidson sporting a grin from ear to ear. This travel bug grew into annual family trips to Cape Cod, always stopping at several garage sales along the way. Linda was in her element walking the beach finding just the right seashells, many times needing a search party because she wandered 2 miles down the beach. Her most treasured trip was the surprise vacation to Israel with Gary. Linda and Gary hand in hand traveled through their “homeland” making their own itinerary and transversing Israel their way. Along the way, Linda and Gary lived their dream and cherished every moment making once in a lifetime memory together. Linda was ALWAYS dancing, not always on beat, but she didn’t care. That’s what we loved about mom, she was always a party to be around, and you couldn’t help but have a good time when mom was around. We’re certain that mom is dancing now, clapping her “dancing” hands, and getting everyone else on their feet moving to the beat. The Gershon family is filled with gratitude for all the love and support from family, friends, Rabbi Matt, and especially Albany Med nurse, Chelsea Welsh. Linda is predeceased by her parents Ruby and Vincent Goodness and her loving brother Duane (Janice) Goodness. Linda is survived by her beloved husband Gary Gershon and his brother Ellis (Beverly), Linda’s creativity and humor will live on through her beloved children and grandchildren: Rachel (Jay) Gershon Rourke, Leah (Bob “Gordie”) DesBois, Aaron (Emily) Gershon, Sarah Gershon, and Justin (Amy) Gershon. Linda will be deeply missed by her grandchildren Macaela (Torrey) Garcia, Gavin DesBois, Isaiah Gershon, Raiah Gershon, Emmet Gershon, Mikey Carlin, Addy Gershon and all her nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews whom she dearly loved. Services will be held on Monday, June 16th at 1:00pm at Congregation Gates on Heaven, 852 Ashmore Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12309 followed by a gravesite service that will be held at Gates of Heaven Cemetery, 2045 Watt Street, Schenectady, NY 12304. The Shiva will be held Monday and Tuesday evening at 7pm at the home of Rachel & Jay Gershon Rourke, 1183 Godfrey Lane, Niskayuna, NY 12309. In keeping with Linda’s love for her Judaism and all animals, the family suggests donations be made to the ASPCA , Congregation Gates of Heaven in her memory. To make a donation in Linda’s memory please consider planting a tree in Israel at shop.jnf.org. To leave a message for the family or view other helpful services please visit www.mcveighfunerealhome.com.

Tributes

Linda A. Gershon

July 15, 1947 - June 12, 2025