Linda Jo Hastings

Linda Jo Hastings, age 78, of Vernon Hills, passed away Monday, April 19, 2021 at her home. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA to Clyde and Louise (McLanahan) Howell. Linda graduated from Grove City College in Pennsylvania and became a middle and high school teacher for her entire career. Her love of languages and interest in other cultures led her to teach Spanish and German. She had a lifelong appreciation of travel, literature, film and art, and was a talented amateur painter. Linda loved sunshine, pools and beaches. She remembered fondly the balmy weather and beach days with her young family when she lived in Los Angeles many years ago. Linda loved animals, especially cats. She always adopted them from shelters, which was an example of her soft heart and caring nature. Linda had a beautiful soul and was exceptionally kind and charitable. She had a small family, but many friends, whom she loved like family. She had a fine sense of humor and an infectious laugh. We all adored her. A loving sister and daughter her whole life, Linda kept in close contact with her mother and brothers, visiting frequently, and was attentive whether they were happy, ill or needed help. Most of all, Linda loved her two sons and four grandchildren, and she provided them with encouragement, comfort and unconditional love. She was a sweet mom and grandma, more likely to spoil than to discipline. Left behind to cherish her memory are her two sons, Randy (Eve) Hastings of Green Bay, WI, Ken (Sharon) Hastings of Sammamish, WA, and four grandchildren, Nora, Anna, Connor, and Luke Hastings. In addition to her parents, Linda was preceded in death by her two brothers William and Donald Howell. A celebration of Linda’s life is being planned for the near future. She will be laid to rest with her parents and brothers in Sylvania Hills Cemetery, Rochester, PA. In lieu of flowers, her family recommends memorials in Linda’s name to Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter, 2200 Riverwoods Road, Deerfield, IL 60015. Arrangements were entrusted to Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, Libertyville. For more information call, 847-362-3009, or for those wishing to share a memory on-line for Linda’s family, please visit www.burnettdane.com

Linda Jo Hastings

July 6, 1942 - April 19, 2021