Travelwoman is gone

My condolences to Mike. So sorry for your loss.

Bassman

Those who didn't get the opportunity to meet Linda, she was a totally wonderful woman who loved her family dearly and got to live her dream of snorkeling every day and living on St. Croix. Not everyone gets to live their dream.... Godspeed Linda...you are in our thoughts. Mike, we love you and our prayers are with you and your family as they have been for so many days...

Mike, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Sorry for your loss.

Ronnie

Oh my God...... words can't express what I am feeling - I have tried, but finally erased everything I have written, so I'll just say we love you Mike and you are in our thoughts and prayers
Pia and Les

Peace to you, Mike, and to your family. I will miss Linda's posts.

I am so sorry.

Travelwoman was a kind conributor to this board.

And from what the people who knew her say, a very graciuous and loving person.

My thoughts are with you.

Mike and family,
Please add my voice to the chorus of voices sending condolences and wishing you strength following your loss.
Onik'a

MIke,
Ashley and I will always have fond memories of meeting you and your wife at Starbucks in Kansas City, alomg with Piaa and her husband. Linda had such enthusiasm and desire to go to the VI she encouraged me even more to make the move. We are saddened to hear of her passing, but are so happy she was able to be on STX as she had dreamed. Please accept our condolences and tears.
Regards,

Mike - The headline to this thread brought instant tears to my eyes and a reminder that the best among us seem to be taken soonest. Please accept my sincere and heartfelt condolences on your terrible loss. Linda amazed me with her positive attitude about making each day count. She embraced life on St. Croix as few people do and was a wonderful example of courage. So few people truly LIVE before they pass. Linda found a way to get the most out of the cards life dealt her and gave so much inspiration to others in the process. I hope you will be remaining with us on St. Croix and that you are able to smile each day as you recall your time with Linda on the island and all the people and activities and events that she enjoyed so completely in her final year of life. My thoughts are with you and a sense of sweet sadness. Although I am saddened at Linda's passing, I am thankful I had the chance to meet her in this lifetime. She was one of life's truly good souls.

Alexandra

Mike, condolences on your loss. Linda was always very helpful and encouraging in her contributions on the board. She will be missed. My thoughts are with you and your family.

--Islander

Dear Mike,

Please accept my most sincere and deepest condolences to you and your family on Linda's death.

I went back to many of Linda's posts today on the forum and met on-line a woman wiho not only knew her destiny but who still maintained an optimistic living spirit to the end.

You were most lucky to be an integral part of her life and the love that you shared. I also know that your sorrow is going to be enormous, particularly as time goes by in the next year or so.

Be prepared, Mike, that the coming months are going to be extremely difficult for you and you may well go through a sort of a hazed existence for quite a while. The human brain has a great propensity to both shut off and then spring back into action when the time is right and this is something that you have to go through in order to start living again.

I'm really not throwing out a panacea by saying that this too shall pass. It's simply an historically given. Cheers!

Mike, I am so sorry. = Double Dome Tedd

WOW! I am so sad to hear the news. She PM'd me not too long ago to encourage me in my battle with melanoma. I will keep you in my prayers.
(former Kansas Citian)

When Mike is back on-island we will plan some sort of gathering to celebrate Linda's life. We'll keep everyone informed.

Dear Mike:

I can't think of anything to add, except to concur and admit to having no words to soften the pain in your soul. We met a couple of times as you were helping someone move into my house. I only remember you and Linda as being so excited about being able to grow a coconut palm from a coconut itself.

Warm, enthusiastic and charming is how I know you both, and will hold that in my heart.

My heart is with you, and with Linda and your children of course.

With love to you both,

Dan

Would also like to add our condolances for your loss. And ours as well. So disappointed not to have met Linda more than once. Her love and encouragement for this island will help me and guide me. You are in our prayers and Beth and Tabra's and LFM's also

Mark and Eve

Mike and family,

Kelly and I send all of our strength and love to you during this terrible time of sorrow and loss. It is obvious to so many that you all were deeply blessed to have Linda's loving, giving self as a cornerstone in your lives -- just as she made it clear to all of us what a gift you all were (and are) to her. Hopefully peace will come to you all.

Linda, my fellow warrior in this terrible struggle, you will always remain a great source of strength and encouragement to me. You are loved more than words can describe. And while not having you physically here with us anymore, we take comfort in knowing that a part of your fighting spirit and determination to live and enjoy will remain here with us even as other parts of you soar and grow and bring even more love to the world now that you are no longer limited by what our physical selves permit.

Penny

Mike,
I was so sorry to read this post this evening when I returned from a trip.
i will always cherrish the dinner the three of us had back in March when I was there.
Are you staying on STX? If so, I will see you again in November.
Terry

Mike and family........

I am so sorry for your loss. Linda was a wonderful source of information to this board, and I truly enjoyed reading her posts. Please accept my condolences.

Pink

Mike -
A bunch of us (and you know who we are) were sailing in the BVI's when we got the news of Linda's passing. We were saddened and so touched by the news. We all cried for you and your children - but were comforted in knowing that she is free from the pain and suffering - and in a better place. As a tribute to her - and her life - we all laughed a bit louder, hugged a bit tighter, loved a bit deeper, and embraced every wonderful moment of this treasure called life. Her life, and her death, has made a big impact on a lot of people - in a very positive way. She was, and will continue to be a great example and inspiration to all who knew her. And we're here for you when you're ready.

Mike and Family,

We met only once and she left a wonderful lasting imprint on my life. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Teresa and family

Irene and I would like to add our thoughts and prayers to those of the many friends of Linda, Mike and their family. We know how important and effective this kind of support is.

God bless you all,

Max

Dear Mike and Family:

You don't know me and I have not had the honor of knowing you, but I read many of Linda's posts, which were always helpful. Please allow me to extend my sincere condolences to you and your family; I only hope it manages to help in some small way.

Ric told me that I should check out the board responses to the announcement of Linda's death. I just now got to it and am overwhelmed at the kind and sympathetic responses posted from everyone. I had the same kind of reaction here locally last Saturday when approximately 120 people showed for her memorial service. Linda had many friends who loved her and I count the Virgin Islands friends among those. All of you made such a difference to her as we researched and made our move to STX. Your support and welcoming attitudes made us feel like we had an immediate family and home on the island from the first day. She loved her island lifestyle and looked forward to coming home after her treatment but it didn't happen. We will all mourn her absence; at the same time, we will all keep her in our hearts and in our minds and never forget her. Thank you all for responding.

I'm not sure when I will be returning to STX; I will come back soon. I would like to hold a memorial service for her there as well. It seems fitting. I will let you all know when that happens. The following is the obituary posted in the KC Star. The poem was one of Linda's inspirations over the last six years.

Bend in the Road
By
Helen Steiner Rice

Sometimes we come to life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end.
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows that it's only a bend--
The road will go on and get smoother
And after we've stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that is best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load,
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow--
You've just come to a bend in the road.

Obituary

Linda Whitehead finally relinquished her courageous struggle with cancer on August 15. She was 52. Linda was a tireless advocate for ovarian cancer education and support for those who unfortunately joined her in this struggle. She was surrounded by her family at the time of her death. She leaves behind a loving extended family and dear friends who miss her terribly and will continue to keep her in their thoughts and prayers.

For the past year, Linda spent her time living in the US Virgin Islands with her husband, Mike, becoming an avid beach bum, snorkeler, and seashell hunter. Linda loved her tropical lifestyle. She never missed a parade, especially when the mocko jumbies were close by, reading or doing crossword puzzles by the pool or the beach, kayaking the ocean, or spending time with new friends at the north shore Cane Bay beach bar.

Linda loved being a mom to her children Elizabeth and Chris. She was delighted when they came for a tropical Thanksgiving visit last year to show them her island. In the end, she was typically more worried about leaving her family alone than fearing her fate.

A memorial service for Linda will be held on Saturday, August 19th at 1:00 at St. Charles Catholic Church in Gladstone, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Linda’s name to the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Kansas City (www.ocakc.org), who use money for education and support services in the local community. At the national level, write to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, 910 17th Street NW, Suite 1190, Washington, DC, 20006, or visit the website at www.ovariancancer.org/.

In Memory of

Linda Joyce (Cook) Whitehead
June 24, 1954 – August 15, 2006

Services at

St. Charles Catholic Church
Gladstone, Missouri
Fr. Garry Richmeier officiating
August 19, 2006

Please consider making a donation in Linda’s name to the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Kansas City (www.ocakc.org), who use money for education and support services in the local community. At the national level, write to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, 910 17th Street NW, Suite 1190, Washington, DC, 20006, or visit the website at www.ovariancancer.org/.