WARREN — Linda May Cross, 71, passed away April 9, 2021 at her daughters’ home after a brief battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Linda was born at Knox Hospital in Rockland on December 5, 1949. She was the daughter of Herbert and Leona Rector. Linda grew up in Rockland, graduating from Rockland District High School in 1967. She married Robert Cross, Jr. in July 1967. They bought a home in Pleasant Gardens, close to both their parents where they lived and raised their three children before divorcing after 26 yrs of marriage. Linda was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her early 20s, but always handled her disease progression with strength and determination. Although wheelchair bound for more than 30 years, she never found it difficult to enjoy life and you would never hear her complaining about her MS.

Over the course of her life, she was proudly known as a devoted and loving Daughter, Sister, Mother, Aunt, Great Auntie, Nanny and Great-Grandmother and without a doubt, a friend. She was known for her stubbornness, determination, diligence, thoroughness and tough but tender love. She was adored by all that knew her.

Linda was mostly a stay-at-home mom but picked crabmeat for years at home as part of the family business. The kitchen was always full of people having coffee, telling stories, playing cards or cribbage, having donuts or just hanging out on that old wood box. Many lives and stories passed through that kitchen in Pleasant Gardens.

Linda loved life, nature, and all animals, especially cats. She had a few favorites over the years, but Morris held her heart to this day. She also enjoyed reading, playing cards, listening to country music, watching NASCAR, enjoying a good cup of hot tea and people watching. She found pleasure knitting and crocheting before losing the use of her hands to MS. You would always find a lifetime movie on her TV and she never missed a chance to win thousands watching Wheel of Fortune, when she would laugh and say they forgot to send her the check.

Lilacs were her favorite flower.

Her most treasured time was spent with family; when her children were younger, she was known for hosting coffee and Dunkin Donuts on the weekends. There was always someone in the kitchen, the coffee on, and stories being told. She thoroughly enjoyed visits from all her grandchildren but held a special place in her heart for Ashley, Chelsey and Tyler. As children, Ashley and Chelsey were gracious about spending their weekends helping their Nanny with her daily chores and rubbing lotion on her feet for money and Tyler always like to hitch a ride on Nanny’s scooter. She was affectionately known as “Nanny in the wheelchair” to her great-grandchildren.

Other than her mother and father, Linda was pre-deceased by her sister Anna Costa and brothers Ronald and David Rector.

She is survived by her children, son Stephen Cross and his wife Amy of Warren; daughters Robin Cross-Snell and her husband Scott of Warren and Wendy Bickford of Vinalhaven. Linda was a proud, loving grandmother to nine grandchildren; Ashley Watts and husband Chris; Chelsey Coburn; Brandon McAuliffe; Nicholas McAuliffe; Tyler Ward; Cheyenne Bickford; Stephen Cross Jr., Caleb Long and Zackary Cross. She a was also a proud great-grandmother to nine great-grandchildren: Quinn, Willow, Daniel, Madeline, Violet, Sophia, Peter, Penelope and Echo. Linda is also survived by two siblings, Robert Rector and his wife Janet of Union; Mary Lou Rector of Rockland and several nieces and nephews including her favorite “Little Herbie.”

Friends and family are invited to a graveside service to be held Friday, April 23, 2021, at 2 p.m, at Achorn Cemetery, Old County Road, Rockland. The Rev. Wayne Sawyer will officiate.

A Celebration of Linda’s Life will follow at her daughters’ home, 167 Ridgewood Drive, Warren.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland. To share a memory or story with Linda’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com