Linda D. Rockey

No memorial. Just tell folks I said to live generously and value caring, not stuff.

Obituary

Fifty-three days after losing her beloved daughter, Allison Rockey, to an untimely cancer death, Linda Rockey lost her life to colon cancer. She leaves behind her son-in-law, Paolo Cozzi, and their dear dog Archie. Linda was an incredible mother, a brave 52-year Crohn’s disease survivor, a proudly independent single woman of 25+ years, an activist for voting, and a practical collector of jazz albums and mid-century art and decor. 

Linda raised  Allison in Mason, MI, before moving to Rochester, MN, Grand Haven, MI, and finally to Washington, DC, where she formed a happy family with Allison, Paolo, and Archie. 

Linda was a remarkable and dedicated mother to Allison, who lived an abundant and meaningful life before her untimely death at only 43. Linda was fiercely independent and committed to her values, and she raised Allison to be the same. They were an extraordinary mother-daughter team, not only in Allison's youth but throughout her adult life as well. They supported each other through all of life's pursuits and finally through each other's struggles with cancer.

Linda became the "den mother" to Allison's communities. She brought homemade treats to the dorm floor, the college house, and every office Allison worked in. She became a second mother to Paolo. Linda was not a grandmother, but many of Allison's closest friends who have kids can recount a time that Linda babysat, gave a particularly thoughtful gift to their kids, sent them home from Allison's house with a fresh batch of cookies for their families, or made sure to tell them that parenting was hard and we were doing a fantastic job. 

Linda was a passionate and careful collector of mid-century modern art and decor. She loved jazz and collected records. She adored Palm Springs, CA, and collecting vintage Palm Springs ephemera. She was an ardent feminist who kept a collection of vintage MS magazines on display in her apartment. She loved and collected vintage typewriters and used them, usually to type supportive notes to friends. 

Linda worked in a variety of jobs, including as a legal secretary. Perhaps most meaningful was her time working at the Mayo Clinic, where she was also a patient since 1971.  We love this video of her explaining her connection to the Mayo Clinic community and her role there: 
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/becoming-an-employee-after-35-years-as-a-mayo-patient

Linda was a very active volunteer, giving generously of her time and resources in every community she lived in. Having faced medical challenges her whole life, she was passionate about caring for others and co-wrote Creative Caring: 825 Little Gestures That Mean a Lot with Beth Kitzinger.

Linda was private & declined a memorial, but she said she would be honored if folks would live and give more generously and kindly in her honor. Two of the organizations for which she passionately volunteered were Martha's Table in Washington, DC, and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. 
https://marthastable.org/,  www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org

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