“Life is eternal and Love is immortal. Death is only a horizon, And a horizon is nothing except the limit of our sight.”
Our beloved and beautiful Linda left this life to be welcomed into a new life with her Father in Heaven. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support. She is at peace now.
Surrounded by her family, Linda E. Kelly, age 69, passed away peacefully in her home in Middleton, Wisconsin on May 5, 2025, ending a courageous battle with Renal Cell Carcinoma.
Linda was born on September 20, 1955, in South Bend, Indiana, the only daughter of Dave and Mary Frances (Mulligan) Erwin. She grew up in various parts of the country, from New Jersey to Illinois and Indiana. Always an avid student, Linda graduated from Snyder High School in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 5th in her class of 535. She married David M. Kelly on November 24, 1979, in Ft. Wayne.
She earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Indiana University and a Master's in Education from Benedictine University. She also pursued graduate studies in Pastoral Theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Linda began her career with the Social Security Administration but spent most of her professional life in education: teaching Middle School Language Arts, instructing Adult Computer Skills, and supervising a College Student Services Office at the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison. Linda also spent a year facilitating women’s health education sessions at Meriter Hospital in Madison.
Linda loved to perform. She was the lead in the musical, “South Pacific,” in high school and the featured baton twirler at St. Joseph’s college prior to her time at IU. Inheriting her love of harmony and the American Song Book from her mom, she sang for several years with the Sweet Adelines barbershop group The Yahara River Chorus. She graced many musical theatrical shows over the years, capping off her career by performing alongside her daughter, Bridget, in a production of Big Fish.
Linda made creative forays into professional writing, picture framing, cake decorating for Icing Smiles (a non-profit delivering dream cakes to kids with serious medical conditions), and other endeavors. For the past four years, Linda wrote a monthly column for the Madison Catholic Herald, Letters from Linda.
Linda was most proud to be a mother and grandmother. She cherished spending time at her lake house, The Linden Lodge, in northern Wisconsin, with her children and grandchildren - passing on her love of the lake, nature, wildlife and, especially, her family.
Linda was a devoted member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison, participating in numerous ministries and organizations. She referred to herself as, “as Catholic as they come”; her faith was not only an abiding source of fulfillment and gratitude throughout her life, but also a stalwart wellspring of comfort, strength, and courage during her decade-long battle with cancer.
Linda is survived by her husband of 45 years, Dave; her children Heather (Troy) Metzler, Patrick (Cathy) Kelly, and Bridget (Joel) Swanson; her grandchildren Liam, Henry, Ryder, Mae, Caroline and Nola; her brothers Mike, Kevin, and Mark Erwin and many nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 22 at the Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, WI from 4pm to 7pm.
Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 23 at 11am, Blessed Sacrament Church, 2116 Hollister Avenue, Madison. Prior to the Funeral Mass, there will be a visitation at the Church beginning at 10am.
A luncheon will be held immediately following in the lower-level Priory of Blessed Sacrament.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kidney Cancer Association, P.O. Box 676226, Dallas, TX 75267-6226 or by visiting https://www.kidneycancer.org/
The family would like to express our sincere appreciation to the wonderful caring team at Agrace Hospice Care.
Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434