Linda Marie Hardiman, 75, of Concord, passed away suddenly, but peacefully, at home on Thursday, July 4, 2024. She was the wife for 34 years of Kenneth Wilson, and the mother and grandmother of her much beloved daughter, Hannah, and her granddaughter, Taylor, of Athol.
She was born in Dorchester on July 13, 1948 to her late parents, John Hardiman and Helen (Morrissey) Lindenauer. She leaves behind a younger brother, John S. Hardiman, his wife Paula, their children Jennifer, of Queensland, Australia, Kevin, of E. Bridgewater, and their three granddaughters, Kirra, Juliana, and Riley.
Linda went to the Boston Girls’ Latin School, but then moved to Quincy and finished at Quincy High School in 1966. After high school, she went to the Quincy City Hospital School of Nursing, and then went into the Army Nurse Corps as a lieutenant, treating wounded Vietnam veterans in Oklahoma. She later completed her B.S. in Nursing at Fitchburg State College in 1975. In 1978, she completed an M.S. in Psychiatric and Community Mental Health Nursing at Boston College.
At that point, she began her career in psychiatric nursing, engaged in direct clinical care, supervision, and nursing education. She spent time working at Massachusetts Mental Health Center in Boston, Boston College, as an instructor, McLean Hospital, The Lipton Center in Leominster, Bay Colony Health Services, Somerville Mental Health Center, Wilmington Family Counseling, North Shore Psychology, and Lawrence Memorial Hospital. When prescribing privileges were granted to clinical nurse specialists, she was in the first wave of prescribers. She finished her career in geriatric psychiatric nursing consultation. She was a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the American Group Psychotherapy Association, and the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy.
After retiring in 2014, she went to visit her niece, Jennifer, in Tasmania for several weeks. Upon return, she decided that more work was needed. She became a part-time cashier and general factotum at West Concord Wine and Spirits and became well-known among the staff and customers. She also became a part-time caregiver for the owner’s granddaughters, and a relationship of much mutual love was developed. When the girls were older, she started doing the same for a neighboring family, and was doing this up to the day of her sudden, tragic death.
Linda was involved in the community in other ways, as well. A devotee of William Shakespeare, she helped to lead a Shakespeare Reading group in the Concord Library for several years. After her daughter Hannah moved to Athol, Linda became invested in seeing what she could do to help in that town. This included efforts to mobilize sentiment and town resources to rehabilitate Silver Lake.
Linda was a source of strength for many of her family, friends, and co-workers. So many relied on her, and she helped so many to keep going. Her passing leaves a profound ache in so many hearts.
Relatives and friends will gather to celebrate Linda’s life during a period of visitation at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Sunday, July 28, from 3 to 4 p.m., concluding with a memorial service at 4 p.m. Burial at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Linda’s memory may be made to Shakespeare & Company, Lenox (Shakespeare.org).
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in her online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
