Linda O'Donnell

LINDA STANEK O'DONNELL

Toddville

Linda N. Stanek O'Donnell, 72, of Toddville, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, at her home. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids, with a visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Entombment will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cedar Rapids next to her beloved mother and near her beloved grandparents.

Linda Nyline Stanek O'Donnell was born Sept. 10, 1943, to Ernest and Nyline Stanek in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She attended school in Cedar Rapids and Marion and at Draughn's Business College in Amarillo, Texas.

Linda worked in various businesses in the accounting field, including Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland.

Always loving outdoor and sports activities, she was a cheerleader during high school and forever accompanying her grandfather in taking care of any wild or rescued animal she found. Her love of gardening and all things living, plants or animals, most likely came from that close family tie.

As a die-hard Republican conservative, Linda believed in conservation of all living things. Her seven trips on safari to Kenya and Tanzania only confirmed her feelings and thoughts on this subject. There was no limit to the type of animal she might try to save, from a lowly tree frog, snake, mouse, bunny, tropical fish or the numerous birds she attempted to set free. Many of her domesticated pets were rescued dogs and cats, and there was always room for one more in her busy household.

Linda belonged to the Cedar Rapids Country Club, was a previous member of the Cedar Rapids Garden Club, and lived life to the fullest with homes both on 33 beautiful countryside acres near Toddville and a lovely home in Cape Haze, Fla.

Linda is survived by her two most prized accomplishments in life, her two sons, Christopher Jon Connington and Craig Allen Connington, and their spouses, Susan and Darcy. Both live in the Chicago area. Also surviving Linda are her six wonderful, talented and extremely smart grandchildren, Taylor, Ben, Mackenzie, Cole, Kaene and Kiley. Her brother, Jon R. Stanek, survives her in Fairview, Ill., along with a special cousin, Nancy (Sergio) Vivanco of Florida; a niece, Heather Kitchen of Illinois; a cousin, Susan Nelson of Omaha; as well as a few other cousins. Linda also had a very special friend, Shirley Heck, who will be left in charge of all the current pets.

She was preceded in death by both her parents and grandparents and her loving and adored husband, Michael G. O'Donnell. Sr.

She will be happily on her way to the Rainbow Bridge to collect all of her pets that have been waiting for her there to continue on with her journey.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at www.aspca.org in memory of Linda.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.