There are some people who leave behind more than memories, they leave behind traditions, laughter, recipes, songs, and countless little moments that become part of a family's story forever. That was Linda.

Linda A. House, 83, of Waterloo, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Geneva General Hospital, surrounded by the unwavering love of her daughters. While her family mourns her deeply, they find comfort in knowing she is reunited with Barry, the love of her life.

Born in Tarrytown, New York, Linda was the daughter of the late Walter and Anna (Kanich) Dyman. She graduated from Sleepy Hollow High School with the Class of 1960. While attending Sleepy Hollow High School, Linda met Donald Vibbard, and the two married young. Together they shared more than twenty-five years of marriage and were blessed with four daughters, who remained the greatest joy of Linda's life. As a family, they created many cherished memories, especially vacations to Niagara Falls and the coast of Maine, traditions their daughters still remember fondly.

Later in life, Linda found love again when she married Barry F. House in 1989. Barry became the love of her life and her greatest adventure. Together they built a life centered on love, laughter, and family. Whether living in Sauquoit, Romulus, or eventually settling in Waterloo in 1995, home was never simply a place, it was wherever they were together. One of Linda's happiest memories was traveling across the United States with Barry in their faithful old RV, creating memories she treasured for the rest of her life. Though Barry passed away in 2010, the love they shared never faded.

If you were fortunate enough to know Linda, chances are you were fortunate enough to enjoy something she baked.

Her kitchen was the heart of her home, where family gathered, traditions were created, and love was measured one homemade meal at a time. Especially during Christmastime, every available surface seemed to be covered with cooling racks of cookies as she lovingly baked hundreds of dozens of Christmas cookies, loaves of pumpkin bread, and chocolate cakes for family, friends, neighbors, and anyone fortunate enough to stop by. Those baked goods weren't simply desserts, they were expressions of love.

Fresh bread was almost always rising somewhere in the house, often tucked beneath a towel near the warm heaters while Linda patiently waited for the dough to work its magic. From homemade white bread and cinnamon swirl bread to Irish soda bread and Easter hot cross buns, baking was one of the many ways she showed her love. She filled her home with the comforting aroma of fresh bread, cookies, and homemade treats, a welcome that greeted family and friends before they even reached the kitchen.

Linda loved celebrating every holiday, no matter how big or small. Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and the Fourth of July were all occasions to decorate the house, prepare favorite family recipes, and create memories that would last a lifetime. She believed holidays were meant to be celebrated together, and homemade family dinners weren't just meals, they were where stories were shared, laughter echoed through the house, traditions were passed down, and love was served alongside every plate.

She also found joy in working in her garden, proudly growing tomatoes and zucchini each summer. Never one to waste a harvest, she created her own recipes, turning zucchini into everything from chocolate cookies and crispy zucchini fritters to delicious homemade zucchini bread. Sharing what she made with others brought her as much happiness as making it.

Linda delighted in garage sales, thrift shops, and searching for hidden treasures, convinced that one person's castoff might become someone else's perfect find. She had an eye for a bargain and never lost the thrill of discovering something unexpected.

When her daughters were young, Linda devoted countless hours as a Brownie leader and room mom, happily volunteering her time to help create special childhood memories. Somehow, she also seemed to know everything that was going on. Her daughters often joked that Mom could "hear around corners." Little escaped her attention, and while they may not have appreciated that gift growing up, it became one of the many things they laughed about and cherished as adults.

Few places brought Linda greater peace than the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She could spend hours listening to the waves, breathing in the salty air, and patiently watching for dolphins just beyond the shoreline. Those quiet moments filled her heart with happiness.

Music was another constant throughout her life. Elvis Presley and Conway Twitty were lifelong favorites, and hearing “Love Me Tender” or “Hello Darlin'” still brings a smile to the faces of those who loved her.

Linda also had an enormous heart for animals, especially her beloved dog, Puff. Spoiled with toys, treats, and endless affection, Puff wasn't simply a pet; he was family.

Above all else, Linda's greatest joy was her family. She never forgot a birthday. Her children and grandchildren knew that if the telephone rang at exactly 7:00 a.m. on their birthday, it was almost certainly Grandma calling to make sure she was the very first person to say, "Happy Birthday." It was a tradition that lasted for decades and one that made every child and grandchild feel incredibly special. Her home was always filled with warmth, wonderful food, laughter, and unconditional love.

In her later years, Linda faced significant health challenges with quiet courage and determination. Her family will always be grateful that one of Linda's greatest wishes, to remain in the home she loved, was fulfilled. Surrounded by familiar comforts, the unwavering love of her family, and an extraordinary care team, Linda was able to spend her final years exactly where she wanted to be. Our family is especially grateful to her devoted caregivers, Dolores Howard, Nita Howard, and Toni Thompson whose compassion, friendship, and loving care enriched Linda's life beyond measure. Together with the many dedicated members of Linda's care team, they gave her the priceless gift of remaining at home with dignity, comfort, and peace. It is a gift our family will forever cherish.

Linda is survived by her loving daughters, Cheryl (Steven) Cistulli, Denise (Elie) Youssef, Debbie (David) Peters, and Allison (David Bordiuk) LaSalle; her cherished grandchildren, Thomas, Megan, Eli, Eliana, Matthew, Abby, Alexander, Maddie, Dylan, and Emma; her precious great-grandson, Mako. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved husband, Barry F. House, and her sister, Katherine Padilla.

Linda's legacy will never be measured by the things she owned, but by the love she gave so freely. It lives on every Christmas when flour dusts a kitchen counter and cookies are baked with love; in every birthday remembered with an early morning phone call, in every dolphin dancing along the shores of the ocean, in every treasured bargain discovered at a garage sale, in every basket of tomatoes and zucchini gathered from a summer garden, and every time “Love Me Tender” or “Hello Darlin'” begins to play.

Most of all, it lives on in the family she loved beyond measure.

She will be deeply missed, forever loved, forever cherished, and always remembered.