Memorial
Linda N. Stanek O’Donnell, 72, of Toddville, died on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at her home. Services will be held on Thursday at 11 AM at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories with a visitation beginning at 9 AM. Entombment will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Mausoleum next to her beloved mother and near her beloved grandparents.
Linda Nyline Stanek O’Donnell was born September 10, 1943 to Ernest and Nyline Stanek in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She attended school in Cedar Rapids, and Marion, Iowa and Business College at Draughn’s Business College in Amarillo, Texas. Linda worked in various businesses in the accounting field including Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland.
Always loving outdoor and sports activities, she was a cheerleader during high school, and forever accompanying her grandfather in taking care of any wild or rescued animal she found. Her love of gardening and all things living, plants or animals, most likely came from that close family tie.
As a die-hard Republican conservative, Linda believed in conservation of all living things. Her 7 trips on safari to Kenya and Tanzania only confirmed her feelings and thoughts on this subject. There was no limit to the type of animal she might try to save from a lowly tree frog, snake, mouse, bunny, tropical fish, or the numerous birds she attempted to set free. Many of her domesticated pets were rescued dogs and cats, and there was always room for one more in her busy household.
Linda belonged to the Cedar Rapids Country Club, was a previous member of the Cedar Rapids Garden Club, and lived life to the fullest with homes both on 33 beautiful countryside acres near Toddville, Iowa, and a lovely home in Cape Haze, Florida.
Linda is survived by her two most prized accomplishments in life – her two sons, Christopher Jon Connington and Craig Allen Connington and their spouses Susan and Darcy. Both live in the Chicago area. Also surviving Linda are her 6 wonderful, talented, and extremely smart grandchildren, Taylor, Ben, Mackenzie, Cole, Kaene, and Kiley. Her brother, Jon R. Stanek survives her in Fairview, Ill, along with a special cousin Nancy (Sergio) Vivanco in Florida, a niece Heather Kitchen of Illinois; a cousin Susan Nelson of Omaha; as well as a few other cousins. Linda also had a very special friend, Shirley Heck, who will be left in charge of all the current pets. She was preceded in death by both her parents and her grandparents, and her loving and adored late husband, Michael G. O’Donnell, Sr.
She will be happily on her way to the “Rainbow Bridge” to collect all of her pets that have been waiting for her there to continue on with her journey.
Memorial donation may be made to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at www.aspca.org in memory of Linda.