Linda Best passed away from heart disease at her residence in South Portland at 72 years of age. Linda loved life, friends and family and treated everyone she met like a celebrity. She was a unique, peaceful, loving soul with a passion for planning parties, playing cribbage and cooking up a storm for her friends and family.

Linda's top priority was always that of a professional mom, but she held various positions as a children's librarian (Orono), teacher (Orono), receptionist (UMaine), newspaper reporter (Republican Journal) and culinary consultant (Hannaford).

Her true calling was in massage therapy, working with hundreds of clients, many of them over several decades until her retirement.

She loved children unconditionally and without limits. Her children, her family's children, her friend's children, her children's friends, her children's friend's children, her friend's children's children, her grandchildren – she loved them all so much… if you knew her, you'll understand… she never forgot them and there's nothing she wouldn't have done for any of them.

Linda was predeceased by her parents James and Rita Peirolo of Springfield, Massachusetts.

She is survived by her eldest son, Stephen, and grandchildren Paxton, Sterling, Adelaide and Arabella of Hawaii; younger son David, his wife Victoria and grandsons Simon and Landon of Lee, New Hampshire; step-son Christopher LaRiviere, his wife Kristin and step-grandsons Ian and Nathan. 

She is also survived by her dear sister, Sylvia, brother-in-law Joseph Furlani, niece Angela Flebotte and husband Micheal, her nephew Anthony Furlani and fiance Cathi and her grand-nieces Danielle, Gabriella, Isabella and Sophia. Linda is also survived by lifelong friends who meant so much to her and brought infinite joy and support to her life. 

Online Tribute site: https://tributes.com/Linda-Best-Maine

Given the current pandemic, a celebration of life will be held in Ocean Park, Maine on her birthday, May 8, 2021 with regional gatherings to be announced on social media.

In lieu of flowers, the family has launched a GoFundMe.com fundraiser for memorial benches in Belfast and Ocean Park. Donations can also be made to Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust in Orland, Maine.

A Belfast-area celebration of life will be held July 5, 4 p.m., at Belfast City Park Pavilion.

Bring friends and family and food for yourselves, if you like, for this gathering of hearts, sprawling out in safe distance to grieve together by sharing our stories. Please help to stay safe by wearing your mask. For more information, contact Alison Palmer at 207-505-5536.