Linda Joy Sereseres Sweatt

Linda Joy Sereseres Sweatt of San Clemente, California left this earth on February 11, 2022, at the age of 78. She was born and raised in a proud Mexican American family in San Bernardino, California. Her middle name “Joy” couldn’t have been more perfect, as Linda was a vivacious force of energy and light to anyone who met or knew her. She graduated from Pacific High School where she was a song leader, basketball homecoming queen, member of student council and social service club. Linda cultivated many longtime, close friendships in her youth. Known as the “life of the party,” she wouldn’t miss a class reunion for anything!

As smart as she was beautiful, Linda attended San Bernardino Valley College, continued as a “Pom-Pon” song leader, and became active in the women’s democratic caucus. Her commitment to social-political action and the Democratic Party was lifelong. She briefly attended UC Santa Barbara before her educational goals were temporarily detoured by marriage and the births of her three children. Linda was a hardworking, driven individual. With three young children under the age of 5, she went back to school, graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 1970, and then obtained her teaching credential from UC Irvine.

A devoted, caring mother, Linda raised her three children while she taught and worked two other jobs as a single mother. She was a dedicated teacher for over thirty years in the Santa Ana Unified School District. She first taught Jr. High, then fourth grade, and ended her career as a bilingual kindergarten teacher at Sepulveda Elementary. Former students remember her fondly for the kindness and fun she brought to her classroom. It was important to her that each one of her students felt special and loved.

A devout Catholic, Linda often stated that the day she received her first communion was one of the “happiest days” of her life. She found inspiration in the life of Mother Teresa and her patron saint, St. Francis, the keeper and protector of animals and nature. Linda had a generous, compassionate heart. A constant "do-gooder” from her early years, she always wanted to help the poor, the homeless, and stray animals. Linda strongly believed in action over talk and was a financial supporter of many charitable organizations that aligned with her values.

Linda was happiest when she was surrounded by her family, friends, dogs, and good food. “Abuelita Loca,” a term of endearment given to her by her three grandchildren, was a one of a kind, fun-loving, silly grandma. She was involved in their lives from the beginning and enjoyed attending their school events, soccer and basketball games, 4-H activities, and birthday parties. Linda adored travel and adventure and looked forward to family vacations with her daughters and grandchildren. The last family vacation was November 2021 in the San Bernardino Mountains near Oak Glen—a place where Linda’s parents took her and her brother, and later their grandchildren, for apple picking every fall. As an early celebration of her birthday, her family surprised her with a stay at “Hopalong’s Hideaway”—a cabin named after her childhood crush, Hopalong Cassidy.

Linda will be remembered for many things, including her love of a good party, her delicious sherry wine cakes, lively political debates, her genuine interest in people and their stories (she never met a stranger), her sense of humor, fondness for Hostess Pink Coconut Snowballs, her beautiful smile, and her big, generous heart.

She is survived by her daughters, Lisa and Moni Sweatt, her three grandchildren, Maya and Caesar Holifield, and Alexander Trumbull, her brother, Caesar D. Sereseres, her aunt, Clara De Nuñez, and many cousins and loving friends. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Rose and Gregory Sereseres, and her son, Ashley Gregory Sweatt.

Family and friends are invited to attend a mass for Linda on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 11:00-12:00 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, 6885 Del Rosa Ave, San Bernardino. A viewing will be held from 12:00-1:00, followed by a Celebration of Life and Reception (1:00-4:00) at Mt. View Mortuary & Cemetery, 570 East Highland Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92404. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of Linda’s favorite charities: ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty), IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), or your local homeless shelter program.