Obituary of Linda M. Luongo

Linda M. Luongo, age 72, of West Brighton, passed away peacefully in her home on November 14th, 2021. She spent her life surrounded by the love and warmth of her children and grandchildren. And thus, in honor of her wishes, she was surrounded by them, their love and warmth in her final moments too. Linda held their hands all throughout life, and they made certain to hold hers as she moved on to a better place. She was a loving mother and best friend to John, Gina, and Rachel. She was a devoted grandmother and best friend to each of her grandchildren, Devon, Savannah, Dylan, Sophia, Santino, and Christopher. Linda was a beloved sister, aunt, and most of all a friend to all those that knew her. Born in 1949, Linda was raised in Staten Island, NY. She married John Luongo on June 29th, 1968 and remained in Staten Island as they raised their children. Linda was the former CEO and owner of Worldwide Exhibition Services in Manhattan. In her spare time, she coached a girl’s softball team that led to 13 consecutive championships. Her daughter Rachel was on her team, and her daughter Gina was the assistant coach. Linda was a free spirit who wore her hair big, and wore her even bigger heart on her sleeve. Her soul’s contagious energy was ethereal to those who knew her; she radiated a kindness that seemed too perfect for this world. This magic within her directly translated to her love of all things magical within the real world. She was infatuated with Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, riddled with mystical elves and hobbits. Linda raised her family with the magic of Disney. She instilled within them, just as she had for herself, a bone-deep joy found in the magic of music. And of course, she found life itself to be magical. Many close to her can recall her watching “Through the Cosmos” with Carl Sagan, tending to her garden flowers (which she called her ‘babies’), or passing waves of love through herself, and into her loved ones with physical touch. She called this loving touch the power of “magic hands”. Later in life, Linda devoted all of her time and energy to her children and grandchildren. Linda was more than a grandmother, she served as a third parent to each and every one of them. She listened to their secrets and kept them. She watched them play because their smiles alone brought her joy. She taught them all what unconditional love truly is. She could be described as love and life personified. Linda was a woman with an eternity of love to give, and it will be felt forever by all those who knew her, despite the fact that they may not have had an eternity to spend with her. She will be eternally loved, and eternally missed in our memories and hearts.