Obituary of Linda Greenlaw

Linda Ann (Bradley) Greenlaw, 70, of Glastonbury, CT, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2014 surrounded by her family and people who cared for her. Linda was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Douglas W. Greenlaw, D.M.D. Linda was born in New Bedford, MA on June 4, 1944 to Charles and Pauline Bradley. She was raised in Marion, MA where she spent her days playing tennis, riding horses, boating and swimming. She also played basketball and ran track. She was a Mariner Girl Scout and a ranked player with the New England Lawn Tennis Association. She was also a member of the New Bedford Tennis Association Junior Wightman Cup team. Linda graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School, Mattapoisett, MA in 1962 and she received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Maine at Orono in 1966, where she met her beloved Doug on a tennis court. They spent many hours on bird walks in the woods of Maine. Linda played tennis for UMaine, where she competed in the Eastern Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament at Forest Hills Stadium, NY. Linda and Doug were married in 1967 while Doug was stationed at Fort Sill, OK. Linda taught elementary school students in Oklahoma, Massachusetts and Maine before moving to Glastonbury in 1977 where they raised their three children. She loved to garden and was always active. She was a Girl Scout leader and she also enjoyed golf. In 1987, she earned her Master of Arts from Eastern Connecticut State University and returned to teaching where her gentle nature, unending patience and ever-present smile touched the lives of fourth grade students at Hebron Elementary School in Hebron, CT for many years. When she was not busy teaching Linda enjoyed riding her horse and spending time with her family on Cape Cod and Nantucket. Her sunshiny optimism, genuine kindness and selfless thoughtfulness will be deeply missed. Linda is survived by her daughters, Dawn G. Hearne (and Thomas), of Glastonbury and Christine G. Fear (and Brian), of VA, and her son Robert D. Greenlaw (and Cindi) of OH, and by her grandchildren, Alexander, Emily, and Vivian Fear; Evan and Rachel Greenlaw; and Catherine, Sara and Mary Hearne. She is also survived by her brothers Edward and Charles and nieces. Her family wishes to acknowledge the Atrium at Rocky Hill, Right at Home, the Alzheimer's Resource Center of Connecticut, and Glastonbury Health Care Center for the care they provided to Linda. A very special thank you to Salmon Brook Center of Glastonbury for their extraordinary care of Linda during the final year of her life. Linda's Masonicare team was exceptional with their help and kindness. Linda's family is also very grateful to Undrea Bowens for the gentle TLC she provided to Linda for over two years. Calling hours are Thursday evening, August 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday morning at 10:00 at St. Dunstan Church, 1345 Manchester Road, Glastonbury followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Glastonbury. Memorial donations may be made in her honor to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Radnor Station, Building 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087, website: www.theaftd.org, or to the Trustees of Reservations, 572 Essex St., Beverly, MA 01915-1530, website: www.thetrusttes.org.