Mrs. Linda Joanne Haynes Zimmer

      Mrs. Linda Joanne Zimmer was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed her to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, she possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. She had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and she was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Linda always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Linda was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.       Her parents were Newell and Shirley Haynes. Linda was raised in Calgary. Always able to express herself well, Linda possessed strong interpersonal skills. She was optimistic in her outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in her communication. Armed with a great wit, Linda was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.      Blessed with a balanced attitude, Linda was able to relate well with others. Her occasional role as family mediator gave her the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Linda was raised with 2. She had one older sister, Carol, and one younger brother, Randy. Linda had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.      Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Linda was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. Her curious nature was spurred by her ability to maximize her personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. She was good with facts and had an excellent memory. She graduated from James Fowler in 1969. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.      Friends and acquaintances found Linda an easy woman to get to know, and those close to her would often praise her open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Linda was uncomplicated and straightforward in her relationships, which allowed her to accept people for what they were. Later in life, she became friends with Anita and has remaind friends to this day.       Linda was attentive to Wallace's feelings, and she charmed Wallace and others with her gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Linda was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.      Very much like a kid herself, Linda identified with the inquisitive and creative side of her children’s personalities. She was able to direct her energy and spontaneity towards helping her children acquire added common sense skills. Linda was blessed with 2, One son, Jason, and a daughter, Jennifer. They were also blessed with 4, Justin, Jonathan, Lauryn, Paityn.      Linda was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around her. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Linda’s strengths included being able to think on her feet. She could be a leader who sought impact for her decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Linda was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. She was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Linda could multi-task, and she was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing her to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in her work environment. Her primary occupation was clerical. She was employed for 10 years for CP Rail.      Linda enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. She had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that she did. She put this creativity toward all of her pastimes. Her favorite pursuits were crocheting, baking, reading, camping, travelling. She was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.      Because she liked to take risks, Linda was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. She was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Recreational sports included bowling, and some softball. Linda was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity.      Linda held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to her. She was a member of St Matthews Lutheran for 51 years.      Travel and vacations were experiences that Linda truly enjoyed. She preferred to seek out excitement wherever she went and she was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” She was willing to leave her plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Mexico, Vegas, Hawaii.      Linda was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Linda’s favorites was bailey, is a yorkie. They were best friends for 11 years.      When Linda’s retirement finally came in 2008, she was well prepared. She used logical analysis of her retirement options in order to ensure her retirement would be fulfilling. Still, she was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. In retirement, she found new pleasure in travelled more, spent lots of time with grandchildren.      Linda passed away on October 12, 2009 at Agape Hospice. Linda fought a brave battle against cancer that started in the breast and ended up spreading to the liver. She is survived by Her husband Wally, Children Jason and Jennifer, Father Newell, Brother Randy, Sister Carol; grandchildren Justin, Jonathan, Lauryn and Paityn. Services were held at St Matthew Lutheran Church. Linda was laid to rest in Queens Park Mausoleum.      Linda was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, she relied on her senses to increase her involvement and awareness of others. She was always able to provide amusing repartee to her friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Linda had a theme song written about her, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” She enjoyed her life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Mrs. Linda Joanne Zimmer.