SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — “Linda Stempel Gicewicz left this world suddenly in the early hours of Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025,” her family wrote in a tribute. “She was 66 years young. Because of the quick actions of her daughter, Sarah Gicewicz, the first responders, and the intensive-care-unit nurses at Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs, Sarah; Linda’s sister Sandra; brother-in-law Tommy; and a handful of friends were able to be with her during her last heartbeats of life.

“Linda wailed her first hello to her parents, the late Rudolph and Sheila (née Rapp) Stempel, on April 15, 1959, in Cobleskill, New York. Within the first few years of her life, a diagnosis of epilepsy would be discovered and layer her path with a combination of safe or slippery stepping stones to cross.

“Early on, Linda cultivated the Stubborn Stempel Spirit. As her daughter Sarah would repeatedly confirm, ‘Yeah, my Mom was stubborn.’

“Even after enduring repeated unkindnesses from some of her classmates at Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School, Linda didn’t cave in — belting one classmate in the gut after another mate stood up for her.

“The Stempel grit stood out again and again as Linda refused to quit. Staying the course to graduate from BKW, passing her driving test after more than a couple of attempts, and doing what needed to be done as she faced numerous challenges and struggles. Having both her daughters whisked away to the neonatal ICU unit at birth was one of those challenges landing on her plate.

“Linda grew up in East Berne. She worked for a short time at her parents’ family sawmill business before landing in Clifton Park after her marriage and eventually taking a job at Wendy’s for several years. Linda was an active member of  the Eastern Star when she joined the Uhai Chapter in Berne and took on the role of Matron for one year. She was also an avid CB Radio user during this time — a hobby that led to meeting her future husband, Paul Gicewicz.

“Linda enjoyed word puzzles, loved angels, and had a flair for the adult coloring craze. One Christmas, everyone in her circle received a meticulously colored animal page as a gift. Being able to share gifts to each family member during the Christmas holiday brought great joy to Linda. Those receiving her carefully wrapped gifts knew they would be challenged to get to the prize inside as they fought through layers of scotch tape.

“Having a fondness for Winnie the Pooh, also known as Poosie in Linda speak, the family knew they would score a home run when gifting Linda anything Pooh related. Likewise was her fancy toward England’s royal family. In fact, the first two pieces in her 1986 self-published collection of poems, ‘Feelings From Within,’ are dedicated to Prince Charles and his wife and Queen Elizabeth  respectively.

From Linda's poem collection:

Take Time To Live

You are boxed in so take the chisel

and chip away.

Slowly you will see the world beyond.

And when you are finally free, you

Will be able to live again.

It will take time, but you will

Know when you are ready.

For now, enjoy the beauty that you can see. (las)
 

Linda, you are now free. May you rest peacefully. Love, your family.

****

The family wishes to thank the first responders, all the caring staff in the ICU at Saratoga Hospital, and Kathleen from Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home in Ballston Lake who took care of Linda’s final details in an efficient and kind manner.

Linda Stempel Gicewicz is survived by her two daughters, Charlotte Gicewicz of whom she was the sole caretaker and Sarah Gicewicz; siblings Catherine Appleby (Arthur), Brian Stempel (Kathleen), Sandra Kisselback (James); sister-in-law Tammy Stempel; and a slew of nieces and nephews from both the Stempel and Gicewicz family trees.

Her husband, Paul Gicewicz, died before her as did her parents, Rudolph and Sheila (née Rapp) Stempel; and her brothers Eric and Greg Stempel.

A Remembering of Linda is being planned by the family for a future date.

Memorial messages may be left at https://altamontenterprise.com/milestones.

“The best way you can honor Linda’s life is to think of her children, Sarah and Charlotte, in any way you think best,” the tribute said. “They have a tough road ahead.”