Linda Maurer Orr of Suffield, CT and Dunedin, FL and a longtime resident of Agawam, passed away peacefully at home, enveloped in the love of her family on February 15, 2020.
Linda was the beloved wife of 58 years of Richard Orr. She was the daughter of the late Henry G. Maurer and Louise Pueschel Maurer. Besides her loving husband, Linda leaves behind her devoted children, Christine Orr Messmer and her husband Jorge Messmer and Matthew Richard Orr as well as her adoring granddaughters and their husbands Nicole Messmer Gauthier and Brian Gauthier and Alexandra Messmer Caron and Thomas Caron. In addition, she leaves her three great-grandsons who brought her loads of joy and laughter, Davin, Talan, and Griffin Gauthier. She also predeceases her "daughter" Marcela Arana de Rivero and her family. Linda also leaves behind her beloved sister, Jill, her brother-in-law, Raymond Orr and his wife Alice, and her sister-in-law Priscilla Andrews, and her husband Laurence, as well as many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Linda was a 1959 graduate of Agawam High School and a 1973 graduate of Westfield State College. She received her Master's degree from AIC in Education with a concentration in Reading and did post graduate work for her CAGS at Westfield State. She taught at Robinson Park Elementary school in Agawam for 31 years as a Kindergarten teacher and Reading Specialist. She was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the Reading Recovery program in the Agawam Public Schools and taught as a Reading Recovery teacher for seven years as well as volunteered as the school librarian. After her retirement, Linda did Reading Recovery consultant work for several years. Linda was the author of several short stories for children including a story published in Jack and Jill magazine and an educational article on Reading during her postgraduate studies. She was a founding member of Valley Community Church in Feeding Hills and taught Sunday School classes there for several years.
Richard and Linda built a house in Cape Cod and spent many happy summers there with family and friends. She was an avid jogger and enjoyed tennis. In retirement, she enjoyed spending time traveling the world with Richard and being surrounded by those she loved. Her kind, compassionate, and giving nature can best be evidenced by her dedication to being an active Hospice volunteer. Linda's legacy of unconditional love and support as well as the grace and beauty which defined her will live on as an imprint on the hearts of all who loved her.
A memorial service will be held at Agawam Congregational Church on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 11 a.m. For more information please visit www.curranjones.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hartford Healthcare at Home or Dana Farber.