Linda Lou (Grindstaff) O'Neill

Biography

HOLDEN – Linda L. (Grindstaff) O’Neill passed away unexpectedly at home on Sunday, March 25, 2018. She was 75 years young at the time of her passing.
Born in 1943 in McCaysville, GA and raised in Dial, GA, Linda was the daughter of the late Edward and Pauline (Bailey) Grindstaff and lived the last 50 years in Holden.
A remarkable student, Linda graduated at the age of 15 from East Fannin High School, GA in 1958 and continued her studies at Memorial Hospital of Chatham County School of Nursing, Savannah, GA, where she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1962. She proudly enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, served as a nurse and became the youngest commissioned Lieutenant in the Air Force at the time. While stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, she met her husband, Dennis J. O’Neill, who was on base working for the government. They married at base chapel on May 8, 1965. Linda received an Honorable discharge from the Air Force as a First Lieutenant on October 23, 1965. They lived briefly in Detroit, MI before moving to Holden in 1968.
Linda worked several years at Holden District Hospital before changing her career to information system’s technology for the U.S. Postal Service in 1984. She worked 21 years at both the Worcester and later Shrewsbury Post Offices before retiring in 2005.
She had an ear for music and a gift for playing instruments. Without formal lessons, Linda could play the guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, and harpsichord. In retirement she liked to spend her time cooking, quilting, knitting, working with stained glass, mosaic art, painting, gardening and doting on her grandchildren. She had an infectious personality that captured the hearts and souls of those who knew her. She could solve all problems with a home cooked meal and a hug. Linda was selfless by nature and is remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, “gammy,” sister and friend.
She is loved and missed by her husband of 52 years, Dennis J. O’Neill; their children, Cindy O’Neill Vitale and her husband, Robert of Fairfield, CT, Stephen Shawn O’Neill and his wife, Kristi of Coconut Creek, FL, Elizabeth J. Frost and her husband, Paul of Foxboro and Michael J. O’Neill and his wife, Rebeka of North Liberty, IA; her brothers, Billy Grindstaff and Ike Grindstaff; her three sisters, Kara and Susan Grindstaff and Ginger Rogers, all of Georgia; her uncle, JT Bailey of GA; her aunt, Shirley Wright of Mt. Holly, NC; her grandchildren, Ryan, Luke, Meagan, Heather, Sean, PJ, Olivia and Miriam; nieces and nephews; and one ornery parrot named Clouseau.

Family and friends are invited to visit with Linda’s family from 12 Noon until 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 6 at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden followed by a service of remembrance at 2:30 p.m. Flowers may be sent or in lieu of flowers a memorial contributions may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02215. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit our"Guest Book" here on this page.