Linda J. Dias

Linda Jeanne Dias of Ancram, NY died peacefully at home on March 3, 2023. Born Linda Jeanne Gavner on October 17, 1963 in Kingston NY, she is the daughter of Joseph and Roberta Gavner. Linda graduated from Saugerties High School in 1981 where she was active in school sports and cheerleading. She proudly played in Saugerties Little League and the Saugerties Athletic Association Women's Division of Softball with her father as her coach. These early years also provided her with a strong spiritual grounding in the Catholic faith that remained with her for her whole life.

Linda married John Valenchis in 1991. They divorced in 2000, but remained good friends. She received an Associate Degree from SUNY Ulster and a Bachelor Degree from SUNY New Paltz. Her career began with the Ulster County Department of Social Services. After serving in several different positions, she retired in 2019 from OPWDD of Dutchess County as the Business Officer. 

In 2004, Linda married Thomas Dias and was welcomed to the family by their two daughters, Michelle Dugal and Christina Wang. She was a beloved mother and grandmother and treasured her time with her grandchildren and her nieces and nephews. She was active in church and community and was a member of the Ancram Fire Department Auxiliary, Saint Mary’s Church and Our Lady of Hope Church. Linda loved to bake and garden, and enjoyed her beautiful home in Ancram, NY where she could often be found outside, appreciating nature and enjoying time with her husband, Tom.

Linda was a treasure to the people in her life. She was supportive to friends and family and was known for being someone who could encourage people even in their most difficult times. She didn’t ignore the hard places in life, many of which she had lived through herself, and was able to use those experiences to remind others that newness always lies on the other side of suffering. Meditation and yoga were both a big part of her life, grounding her after retirement, and through her final days. 

Linda is survived by her husband, Thomas Dias; parents, Joseph and Roberta Gavner; siblings, Sharon Garde, Joanne (Doug) Keim, David (Nikki) Gavner, and Dwayne Gavner; daughters, sons, and their spouses Dominic and Kim Dias, Erik and Marcy Dias, Kyle Dias and Orly Pinchas, Michelle and Dan Dugal, and Christina and John Wang; her grandchildren, Ethan Dias, Kayden Dias, Nadira Dias, Jacob Dias, Gabriel Dias, Grant Dias, Elias Wang, Kieran Dugal, Caitlin Wang, and Lochlan Dugal; great granddaughter Juliet, and nieces and nephews, Andrea Keim, Matthew Keim, Kathryn Garde, Jacob Gavner, Colin Gavner, Abrianna Gavner, Madisen Gavner, and Charlize Gavner. She is also survived by her former husband, John Valenchis, and her childhood friends, Jennie Martin Edwards and Kelly Martin Migacz. 

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Peck & Peck Funeral Homes, 8063 Route 22, Copake, NY from 10am-1pm, followed immediately by a service from 1pm-2pm. The family invites you to the Ancram Fire House after the service for a meal, refreshments and time to gather together to celebrate Linda. 

Flowers can be sent to the funeral home, or in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ancram Fire Company in Memory of Linda Dias (PO Box 8, Ancram NY 12502).

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