Linda Lou (Hammond) Zeretzke (1924 - 2007)

Born 26 May 1924 in Bellingham, Whatcom, Washington, United States

Wife of Edward Arthur Zeretzke — married about 9 Aug 1945 in Whatcom, Washington, United States

Died 28 Jul 2007 at age 83 in Mount Vernon, Skagit, Washington, United States

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Biography

Linda was born in 1924. She passed away in 2007.

Obituary

Linda Lou Zeretzke, 83, left us just before dawn on Thursday, July 28th, 2007 after a sudden and brief struggle with the complications of pneumonia. A beautiful sunrise followed very shortly. Linda was the wife of Edward Zeretzke of Mount Vernon and mother of Dale, Randy and Heidi.

Linda was born in Bellingham Washington on May 26, 1924 to Frank and Bertha Hammond and was the youngest of three children growing up on a small farm near Ferndale. She graduated from Bellingham High School and later attended Bellingham Business College. After college, she began a career as a medical secretary and later a secretary for the Teamsters Union.

During WWII she met the love of her life, a sailor named Ed, at the USO club in Bellingham, where she was volunteering. On August 18, 1945, three days after the end of the war, they were married and have been happy all of the 62 years since. She and Ed lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1945 --1949 and Rockford, Illinois, from 1949 - 1954 before returning to Skagit County to join the community and raise their family. Throughout the years their church life has been a central part of their personal lives including supporting her spiritually in two successful battles against cancer. Linda and Ed have constantly been active and widely loved members of the United Presbyterian Church, and more recently, the First United Methodist Church, both in Mount Vernon.

Linda had a special interest in gardening, square dancing, needlework and reading widely about peoples and cultures. She and Ed lived and worked in Honduras in 1968. In retirement years she loved to travel with Ed both by motor home throughout the country, and on a variety of trips to Alaska, the Caribbean, Australia and the South Pacific.

Linda is survived by her husband, Ed, her son Dale and daughter-in-law Annie Walker, her daughter Heidi Zeretzke and son-in-law Tim Miller, and by her grandchildren Megan Xylia Walker, Ivy Miller and Robin Miller, as well as her sister, Donna Peterson, her brother Louie Hammond and his wife Joyce, Brother and Sister-in-laws Fred and Marian Zeretzke, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Bertha Hammond, and her second son Randy.

Throughout her life, Linda has been known for her strong sense of humanity and social justice. After the passing of their first son, Randy, in 1984 she and Ed founded the Skagit County chapter of Compassionate Friends - a nationwide organization devoted to the support of parents who have lost children. They led the group for ten years.

In lieu of flowers, and in the spirit of Linda's devotion to human needs, the family has created a memorial fund providing ongoing support for individuals in the third world seeking to become self-reliant. Contributions to this fund can be sent directly to Ed. Contributions can also be made to specific cancer funds of your choice. For further information, please feel free to contact the family.

A celebration of Linda's life will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 1607 E. Division St., Mount Vernon, Saturday, August 4th at 2pm, with reception to follow. There will be an opportunity to tell any remembrance you might have of her, or leave the family a written copy which will be collected and saved with care.

Please share your thoughts of Linda and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Mount Vernon.

Sources

• https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/skagitvalleyherald/obituary.aspx?n=linda-lou-zeretzke&pid=91811615&fhid=3512