Obituary of Linda Maria (O'Brien) Pagan

ALBANY- Linda Maria (O’Brien) Pagan, cherished mother, and sister, passed away peacefully at her home on May 21, 2022. Linda was born on April 9, 1949, and raised in Queens, NY until her family moved to Woodbridge, NJ in her teens. Upon graduation from Woodbridge High School, Linda returned to New York City where she attended the Medical Assisting Program at the Mandl School; eventually moving to upstate New York in the Albany area. She received her Associates Degree in Women's Studies from Hudson Valley Community College by attending night school after work. She worked for the State of New York in various administrative assistant positions and retired from the Dean of Public Administration office at SUNY. In retirement, Linda was a hospice volunteer at the Hudson Park Nursing Home; and as a certified Therapeutic Touch practitioner she would perform Therapeutic Touch on her patients. She was a very caring person, involved in helping neighbors and friends wherever needed; and advocated fiercely for social justice by attending and volunteering at protests and rallies for basic human rights and the environment. Linda participated in meditation groups, including the Shambhala Meditation Center in Albany, and was also being tutored in Spanish. She researched and documented the genealogy of her Puerto Rican heritage - reaching out across the ocean to talk to relatives for information - and took the family last name of Pagan in honor of the strength of the women on the island. She surrounded herself with dance, music, and the arts; and could be found immersed in newspapers, the goings on in the world, books, and poetry all her life. She herself liked to write and was involved in several writing groups. She was known to sing the “happy birthday” and “you are my sunshine” songs to her loved ones (and dog) and would even belt out songs while hiking. As an avid hiker, she loved hiking with her friends, daughters and beloved dog, Pancho in the nearby Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, which she came to love. She is predeceased by her parents, Mary and Andrew O’Brien and brother, Joseph O’Brien. She is survived by her daughters, Heather Barnes of Plattsburgh, NY and Elizabeth Barnes of Latham, NY, as well as three sisters, Cathleen O’Brien Bastian of Toms River, NJ, Dorothy O’Brien Winkler of Freehold, NJ, and Marguerite O’Brien McKenna of Avenel, NJ. The family would like to thank Community Hospice of Albany for their excellent caring and support of our dear mother and sister. A beautiful leaf has fallen from the trees she so loved, down to the forest floor. Now she will be with her beloved mountains. Now she will be everywhere and everything, and in our hearts forever. Cremation took place through the care of Simple Choices, Inc. To leave a special message for the family, please visit: SimpleChoicesCremation.com