Obituary of Linda Ann Pitts
WATERFORD –
Linda Ann “Lynn” Pitts, age 78, of Waterford, New York, joined her loved ones in heaven on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 when she peacefully passed away with her devoted family by her side.
Born on July 24, 1946, Lynn was the second daughter to the late Callista Mastriano and the late Albert LaRose of Cohoes, New York. She was the sister of William LaRose of Parker, Colorado, who predeceased her, and of Gail Wickert of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
In 1962, at the age of only 16, she met her beloved husband, Thomas Pitts, and they began their lives together in marriage on September 12, 1964. Lynn blessed Tom with seven dedicated children who loved and adored her beyond measure and who stayed close by her side until the very moment that the Lord called her home.
Lynn was a dedicated employee at the NYS Division of Human Rights for over 26 years until she finally retired in 2007. Likely a result of her kindness and compassion, Lynn made life-long friendships during her years working at the State, and she was often welcoming her colleagues into her cozy Round Lake home for cheesecake, coffee, and conversation. Lynn was a wonderful host, and she had a gift for making everyone who visited feel like family.
As a mother to seven and a grandmother to nineteen, Lynn was certainly the revered matriarch of the family. She was a woman who valued, above everything else, her faith and her family. Raising her children in the church, she taught each of them to believe in the grace of God and to honor and respect their relationships with one another. She loved having her family beside her more than anything else in the world, and she insisted upon establishing and continuing traditions of grand family gatherings for all of the important moments in life- from holidays, to birthdays, to annual vacations on the shores of Wildwood, Sacandaga Lake, or Lake George. Many years of these festivities are fondly remembered by her children and their significant others, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, her sister, her nieces and nephews, and all of her many friends and family members who shared in these trips and traditions.
Lynn had a gift for writing, and she generously shared this gift with her family in her creation of beautiful poetry, each stanza brimming with emotion, and often tear-inducing. These poems have been lovingly treasured by the family for many years, and will surely be shared by the generations to come as they learn of the woman that she was and the legacy that she has left. These poems are likely the most important of any tangible gifts that she has left behind; the intangible gifts are simply countless- they are the millions of memories that each of her family members and friends will recall and share in all of the years to come.
Lynn’s loved ones will remember that the grand family gatherings of recent years began as intimate huddles around a small kitchen table at dinner time; how there was always a hot meal prepared, no matter how long or difficult her work day had been; and how there was always a little more room at the table to make space for just one more kid, one more neighbor, or one more friend. They’ll remember the wonderful chaos of life, the conversations, and above all, the laughter that was the essence of The Pitts’ Family home. They’ll remember the lessons that Lynn taught to the ones that she loved the most: to treasure family and friends, to make memories, to honor traditions, and to always share the love in your heart.
Lynn strongly believed that when she saw a cardinal, her loved ones in heaven were near. It was therefore no small coincidence that on the morning after she earned her own wings, a cardinal was spotted resting quietly on a tree branch looking over the home where the family had gathered. Heaven sent a sign as a reminder that she’s always with the ones that she's loved.
Lynn has joined her parents (Callista Mastriano and Albert LaRose), her brother (William LaRose), and her step-father (Albert Mastriano) in heaven. She is survived by her beloved husband and best friend of sixty years, Thomas Pitts, Sr.; her cherished sister, Gail Wickert; her adoring children: Mary Ellen Zappulla (Frank); Lynette Diotte; Laurie Pitts; Deanna Pitts (Steve); Thomas Pitts (Philomena); Jennifer Brown (Bill); and Melinda Vogel (Kevin). She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren: Joseph, Michael, and Robert Zappulla; Gavin and Amanda Staulters; Jeremy Pitts; Jarrod Williamson; Jordan Snyder; Darick Brady; Danielle Brady-Hafele; Marvin Walker, Jr.; Thomas and Gianna Pitts; Jacob and Joshua Brown; Taylor Pettis, and Aaron, Alexander, and Gabriel Vogel; and many great grand-children, nieces, and nephews who adored her.
Born on July 24, 1946, Lynn was the second daughter to the late Callista Mastriano and the late Albert LaRose of Cohoes, New York. She was the sister of William LaRose of Parker, Colorado, who predeceased her, and of Gail Wickert of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
In 1962, at the age of only 16, she met her beloved husband, Thomas Pitts, and they began their lives together in marriage on September 12, 1964. Lynn blessed Tom with seven dedicated children who loved and adored her beyond measure and who stayed close by her side until the very moment that the Lord called her home.
Lynn was a dedicated employee at the NYS Division of Human Rights for over 26 years until she finally retired in 2007. Likely a result of her kindness and compassion, Lynn made life-long friendships during her years working at the State, and she was often welcoming her colleagues into her cozy Round Lake home for cheesecake, coffee, and conversation. Lynn was a wonderful host, and she had a gift for making everyone who visited feel like family.
As a mother to seven and a grandmother to nineteen, Lynn was certainly the revered matriarch of the family. She was a woman who valued, above everything else, her faith and her family. Raising her children in the church, she taught each of them to believe in the grace of God and to honor and respect their relationships with one another. She loved having her family beside her more than anything else in the world, and she insisted upon establishing and continuing traditions of grand family gatherings for all of the important moments in life- from holidays, to birthdays, to annual vacations on the shores of Wildwood, Sacandaga Lake, or Lake George. Many years of these festivities are fondly remembered by her children and their significant others, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, her sister, her nieces and nephews, and all of her many friends and family members who shared in these trips and traditions.
Lynn had a gift for writing, and she generously shared this gift with her family in her creation of beautiful poetry, each stanza brimming with emotion, and often tear-inducing. These poems have been lovingly treasured by the family for many years, and will surely be shared by the generations to come as they learn of the woman that she was and the legacy that she has left. These poems are likely the most important of any tangible gifts that she has left behind; the intangible gifts are simply countless- they are the millions of memories that each of her family members and friends will recall and share in all of the years to come.
Lynn’s loved ones will remember that the grand family gatherings of recent years began as intimate huddles around a small kitchen table at dinner time; how there was always a hot meal prepared, no matter how long or difficult her work day had been; and how there was always a little more room at the table to make space for just one more kid, one more neighbor, or one more friend. They’ll remember the wonderful chaos of life, the conversations, and above all, the laughter that was the essence of The Pitts’ Family home. They’ll remember the lessons that Lynn taught to the ones that she loved the most: to treasure family and friends, to make memories, to honor traditions, and to always share the love in your heart.
Lynn strongly believed that when she saw a cardinal, her loved ones in heaven were near. It was therefore no small coincidence that on the morning after she earned her own wings, a cardinal was spotted resting quietly on a tree branch looking over the home where the family had gathered. Heaven sent a sign as a reminder that she’s always with the ones that she's loved.
Lynn has joined her parents (Callista Mastriano and Albert LaRose), her brother (William LaRose), and her step-father (Albert Mastriano) in heaven. She is survived by her beloved husband and best friend of sixty years, Thomas Pitts, Sr.; her cherished sister, Gail Wickert; her adoring children: Mary Ellen Zappulla (Frank); Lynette Diotte; Laurie Pitts; Deanna Pitts (Steve); Thomas Pitts (Philomena); Jennifer Brown (Bill); and Melinda Vogel (Kevin). She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren: Joseph, Michael, and Robert Zappulla; Gavin and Amanda Staulters; Jeremy Pitts; Jarrod Williamson; Jordan Snyder; Darick Brady; Danielle Brady-Hafele; Marvin Walker, Jr.; Thomas and Gianna Pitts; Jacob and Joshua Brown; Taylor Pettis, and Aaron, Alexander, and Gabriel Vogel; and many great grand-children, nieces, and nephews who adored her.
At Lynn’s request, no funeral services will be held. Cremation has taken place through the care of Simple Choices, Inc.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Community Hospice Foundation in memory of Lynn.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Pitts Family, online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com
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