On February 15, 2026, Linda D. Mroz died in her home with her husband and daughters at her side. She was 82 years old, and in those years, found many joys that sustained her when rougher times arose.

Linda was born in Sterling Connecticut to Theresa and Winfred Hawes on November 8, 1943. Her siblings Timothy, Clifford and Rebecca Hawes followed. As the oldest child, she often cared for her siblings, a tradition that continued into adulthood. She cleaned up Clifford's injuries when his natural exuberance led him into good-natured recklessness, served as a god-parent to Timothy's daugthter, and gave her wedding dress to Rebecca to wear in her own wedding. She was a devoted daughter to her parents and held them in her heart long after they were gone.

After high school, Linda attended St. Lawrence Nursing School in New London, Connecticut, graduating near the top of her class, and embraced many things all at once: marriage at 19 years old to the absolute love of her life, Matthew Mroz, a career in nursing, and the birth of her first child, Melissa. Never one to let grass grow under her feet, she and Matt built a home (literally, not figuratively) in Connecticut, completing it while she was expecting her second daughter, Monica.

In 1977, Matt, Linda and their girls relocated to Newport, RI where they put down roots and formed lasting friendships.

Keeping Matt in line, raising her daughters, caring for her patients, advocating for the nurses who worked under her, and being a kind and loving sister and daughter, were the threads in the fabric of Linda's life and she wove them with precision and grace.

As a nurse, Linda was curious and astute and did not shy away from a challenge. In the 80s she took on a position treating addiction at Edgehill Newport, and discovered a passion for helping individuals on their recovery journey. She rose to the role of Director of Nursing at Edgehill, an in-patient addiction treatment facility, and through that role, formed many professional relationships that she treasured for the rest of her life.

She and Matt worked hard, but they liked to play, too. They spent many November weeks over the years in Aruba, enjoying the warm sand and the ocean, culture, music, and vibrancy of the island. When Matt turned 50, Linda gave him his first flying lesson, which opened the door to many shared adventures, flying around the country in Matt's Cessna. Their crowning flight achievement was flying cross-country to Arizona and then back to the East Coast, with visits to family along the way.

As Linda's family expanded to include 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren and she exited her professional career, she found her compass in family. She and Matt visited Vermont, Arizona, and Virginia in order to stay close to their daughters and grandchildren, logging many flight and road miles and enjoying many late lunches along the way.

Linda was no stranger to physical challenges, but in January 2022, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Like most challenges, she met this one head on with her family at her back. After rigorous treatment, she had four more amazing years in which she lived life to her fullest. She attended family weekends at Kent State University and URI, tail-gated at college football games, attended the weddings of her two grand-daughters, attended the college graduations of two of her grandsons, saw the birth of her second great-grandchild, went to Aruba four more times, and spent multiple beach weeks in Sandbridge, Virginia. As always for Linda, facing any adversity was well worth it if it meant more Scrabble games with her girls, more adventures with Matt, more family dinners with her grandchildren, and just more love.

After 62 years of marriage, Linda leaves behind her husband Matthew, her daughters Melissa Mroz-Gaskill (Peter Gaskill) and Monica Mroz (Chris Roakes), her grandchildren Emma Gaskill (Harry Mielde), Noah Gaskill, Anna Gaskill (Ryan Saeger), Finn Mroz-Roakes, and Jonah Mroz-Roakes, and her great-grandchildren Thalia Gaskill and Willem Saeger. She was predeceased by her mother, father and siblings, and her spirit now joins theirs.

She was Lin. She was Mom. She was Meme. She was amazing.

She is loved and she is missed.

A visitation for Linda will be held at Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway, Newport, RI on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at Memorial Funeral Home in Newport, RI, on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 1:00 pm.

If you would like to honor Linda, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society