Lynda Elizabeth Behrens

Lynda was born on October 9, 1947 in New York City to Robert and Betty Hutchens. They moved their growing family to Avenel, NJ where Lynda would become the oldest sister of 6 children. She attended Woodbridge High School and graduated in 1965.

Lynda put herself through secretarial school. A job at the department store, Two Guys, would change her life. On April 9, 1966, she had her first date with her co-worker, Michael, at Tito’s pizza and, when she returned home, she informed her mother she had just been out with the man she was going to marry. On August 24, 1968, she did just that. Michael and Lynda would spend the next 57 years together with the two of them joking that in that time, they had only ever had 1 fight (which lasted 57 years).

Lynda went on to work for Eastern Airlines, a job that gave her and Michael the chance to travel the world together, seeing sights and places they only dreamed of during their childhoods. Lynda supported Michael as he attended law school, always believing in him, knowing that together, they could achieve great things.

They bought a house in 1975 in Madison, NJ. It was a three-story Victorian home in need of desperate repair. But to Lynda, she saw its beauty and possibilities. Lynda and Michael would live in that home for 47 years, filling the rooms with laughter and love. They would welcome two daughters, Michele and Elizabeth, and to them, Lynda was dedicated, loving, and supportive. She volunteered in their schools, was a Brownie leader and most importantly, advocated for them. She taught them how to be strong women and to fight for what they believed in.

Lynda would return to the workforce as a real estate agent as her daughters became older, leaving that role to care for her ailing parents. Through that devotion, Lynda taught her daughters family was the most important thing.

Lynda would become a grandmother to Delaney and Hadley, a role she cherished and seemed to be born to do. She showered them with wisdom, love, and attention, being at games, school concerts, and recitals. She never hesitated to take them for ice cream to their favorite place in East Hanover, Last Licks, forever known to her granddaughters as “the one with the cow” or prepare a snack of “grandma crackers.” Lynda and Michael moved to Holly Springs, North Carolina in 2022 so they could continue their special place in the lives of their granddaughters.

Lynda loved antiques, filling her home with depression glass and items she picked up along the years at auctions and garage sales. She loved a good slot machine in Atlantic City, hitting big on Lucky 7s and Wheel of Fortune. She loved to cook, making delicious meals for the holidays that will be hard to replicate. But above everything, she loved her family. And her family loved her.

Her family would like to thank the wonderful people of Liberty Home and Hospice, for providing care and comfort to Lynda in her last days. They would also like to thank Lynda’s dialysis companion, Dorothy, who was a source of laughter, care, and protection in the last few months of her life.

She is survived by her husband, Michael, her daughters, Michele and Elizabeth, her sons-in-law, David and Ryan, and her granddaughters, Delaney and Hadley. She also leaves countless friends and family members who will remember her spirit and devotion.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 30th at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams St. Apex, NC 27502 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Memorial tributes and messages of sympathy can be left by clicking the "Add a Memory" box below. Apex Funeral Home is honored to serve the Behrens family.