The obituary has been published in two local newspapers and at the web site of the funeral home. On the day they were published in the papers I remembered an important detail about Mom that I wish I had included (breast cancer survivor), so the revised obituary will be part of this blog post.
The link to the obituary in the Dallas Morning News is: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?pid=176175738
That obituary was shortened due to the ridiculously high cost compared to the Denton Record Chronicle, so it just includes the basic facts.
The link to the obituary in the Denton Record Chronicle is: http://www.dentonrc.com/obituaries-headlines/20151021-linda-sue-mordecai-jennings.ece
That is the full obituary, minus the part about surviving breast cancer.
The link to the obituary at the funeral home web site is: http://www.deberryfuneraldirectors.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/13043/id/3357049
That is the full obituary. Last night I submitted a request to add the part about surviving breast cancer, and while I was typing this post it was updated.
Linda Sue (Mordecai) Jennings, 74, of Farmers Branch died at her home on Sunday, October 18, 2015. She was born in Denton, Texas, the middle child of Marshall O'Connor Mordecai and Vera Eloise Taliaferro, on July 19, 1941. Linda graduated from Denton High School in 1959 and from North Texas State University with a degree in Education in 1964. She spent over twenty years as an elementary school teacher in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years David Lee Jennings, both of her parents, and her older brother Wayne Mordecai.
Linda was not only a 13-year breast cancer survivor, she lived a very active life well into her senior years, including the following memorable adventures after turning 50: Parasailing in Cozumel, snowmobiling at the Continental Divide, surviving an out of control hot air balloon ride, cruising through the Panama Canal, and driving on the German Autobahn (Go granny go!). In her later years she fulfilled her love of traveling even more with her beloved companion Ed Kubala, as they traveled around the world for four years to more locations than her children can remember.
Despite being on dialysis for three years due to kidney failure caused by fibrinogen amyloidosis, Linda continued to travel whenever possible, including trips to Hawaii and a Caribbean cruise. She had recently booked another cruise for 2016. Although her travels may have slowed down, she still got great enjoyment from her grandchildren and attended as many soccer, basketball, gymnastics and band events as she could. Her grandchildren thoroughly enjoyed the weekly no-parent lunches with Nama that she started this summer.
Linda is survived by her son David Wayne Jennings (Cathy) of Plano; daughters Laura Sue Franklin (Tom) and Amy Lynn Christian (Jimmy) of Carrollton; and younger brother Michael Mordecai (Laura) of Spicewood, TX. Grandchildren include Victoria White (Trevor), Cliff Jennings, Brittany, Brian and Bradley Franklin; Connor and Cole Christian; and one great-grandchild, Cooper White.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 22, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton. Funeral service will be Friday, October 23, 2015 at 10:00 AM in the chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors. Burial will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Mountain Springs.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Amyloidosis Support Groups (http://amyloidosissupport.org/donations_form.html) or a charity of your choice.