Linda M. McLaughlin

Linda M. McLaughlin, age 76, of Saugus, formerly of Wakefield, passed away with her family by her side on Thursday, October 24 at the Care One in Peabody. 

She was born in Little Falls, NY on March 2, 1948 and was the daughter of the late Edward L. and Helen G. (Qvick) Gifford. 

Linda was raised in upstate New York before moving to Reading and ultimately graduating from Reading High School. She was a devout catholic and was a parishioner of many local churches including St. Athanasius of Reading, St. Florence of Wakefield, and was both a parishioner and choir member of St. Maria Goretti Church of Lynnfield. She loved to write poetry and enjoyed shopping. Linda most cherished her family; she loved being a mother and grandmother and was also very close with her sisters. She was a past vice president of the Parkinson’s Support Group of Stoneham. In her last years, she was a resident of Care One Peabody where she was loved by residents and staff alike.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Charles McLaughlin, with whom she shared 51 wonderful years of marriage. She was the loving mother of Erin M. Lyons and her husband Joseph and Eileen P. Colleran and her husband Joseph, all of Wakefield. She was the adoring “Grammy” to Michaela, Conor, Cian, Lucas, Owen and Eleanor. She was the cherished sister of Geraldine DeGennaro of Florida, Roberta Stellmacher of Colorado and the late Gloria Gifford and Laura Gifford. 

Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Tuesday, October 29 from 4-7pm. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Athanasius Church, 300 Haverhill St., Reading on Wednesday, October 30 at 10:30am. A private interment at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne will take place on Thursday, October 31. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741.