Linda Anne Dougherty

Linda Anne Dougherty (nee Dembosky) died peacefully at the age of 76 on December 15, 2023 with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. Born in Gary, Indiana on April 16, 1947, she attended Hobart Township Schools and graduated from River Forest High School in 1965. She often sang the River Forest fight song when she needed a personal pep talk and shared that spirit of fight and fun with her family. She continued her college education at Indiana University and received a Bachelor’s degree in History as well as a Master’s in Library Science in 1974.

For a small, but impactful moment of time in her life, she worked at Albert Whitman & Company, an independent publishing house for award-winning children’s books.

A life member of the American Library Association, she was active in the Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) during its organizational years. She worked for the majority of her professional career at the Chicago Public Library at the Scottsdale, Brighton Park, and Clearing branches on the southwest side.

Active in the Clearing neighborhood community where she also lived for much of her life in Chicago, she helped to organize the Clearing NightForce Watch Group, was an officer in the Clearing Civic League, was active in the Midway Business Association and Kiwanis Club, and was chair of the Southwest Home Equity Assurance program. She also supported local 1215 of AFSCME as Vice-President. In addition, Linda served on several various boards throughout her life with the West Area American Cancer Society, Southwest Community Congress, Family Services of Metropolitan Chicago, and the Southwest Home Equity Assurance, to name but a few.

She also passionately attended CAPS meetings and participated in citizen patrols. Additionally, she was a literacy tutor at Project Care at Morton College for a couple years.

Most importantly, she was a wonderful mother.

Linda had a commitment to lifelong learning and always believed every day was a day to celebrate. She inspired and supported an innumerable amount of people and took their curiosities as her own. She always believed in the investment in and of communities to bring out the best for all and encourage community involvement as a way to keep neighborhoods safe for Chicago.

On August 26, 2023, the community room of the Clearing Branch Library was named after her to honor her work in achieving a new branch decades ago.

Preceded in death by her parents, Martin Casper and Nellie Irene Dembosky (Las Vegas, NV) and sibling Robert Penny. She is survived by her daughter Anne Marcia Marie (Dougherty) Miskewitch (Mark) and her greatest joys–her grand-children, Andrew Michael Martin, Nina Olivia Lynn, and Alyna Eva Marie who most affectionately called her "Gaga."

Arrangements:

A viewing and celebration of her life will be on Friday, December 22nd at 3:00 pm with services at 4:00 pm with visitation continuing untill 8:00 pm at Dignity Memorial: Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home at 6901 W. Belmont, Chicago IL 60634

Inurnment Private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Feed My Starving Children, Reading is Fundamental, or Little Brothers–Friends of the Elderly as some of her favorite charities.