Linda "YaYa" Riley Gardner

Linda “YaYa” Riley Gardner, 78, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 2 at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, PA. Linda is survived by her daughter Heather G. Sheehan. She now joins her husband, Denny, who passed away nine years ago, and her daughter, Leona, who passed away at a young age. 

Linda is lovingly remembered by her twin sister Leona Abraham, grandchildren Gardner and Riley Jane Sheehan, son-in-law Andy Sheehan, sisters Charlotte Lazarchik and Susan Gerschkow, brother Tom Riley, and many nieces, nephews and other family members.  Linda also now joins sister Jane Ann Emanuele, brother Gene Riley, and close brother-in-law Jimmy Abraham (Leona) who have passed.

Linda was born in Whitney, PA in 1946. Always with a twinkle in her bright blue eyes, she told stories of growing up in Latrobe, PA with her six siblings; celebrating family holidays with Italian roast beef and deviled eggs; getting things just right for patients at Anne Arundel Gastroenterology Associates; winning tennis matches; and rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoons in Severna Park, MD with her husband Denny. Above all, she cherished her role as a mother, grandmother and aunt.

Linda moved to Bryan Mawr, PA to be close to her daughter and family after Denny passed and thrived until she left us. She formed a walking group with Peggy and Rita, hosted frequent dinner parties, organized the Holiday Bazaar to benefit the Friendship Fund at the Mansion at Rosemont, had marathon phone calls with her twin sister Leona and sister-in-law Garnet, and perfected her chocolate-chip-banana-bread for surprise deliveries to Gardner and Riley Jane. A hand painted stone outside her cottage said “Love You To the Moon and Back.” We will, Linda.

Family and friends will be celebrating Linda’s life at The Mansion at Rosemont (404 Cheswick Road, Bryn Mawr, PA) on Saturday June 15 at 2pm.