Nancy Jane Abeyta

Nancy was born in San Fernando, California, where she met Anthony “Tony” Addison. The two married in 1954 when they were both just 18 years old. Tony soon joined the United States Air Force as an auto mechanic, and during the Cold War years of the 1950s Nancy accompanied him to several duty stations, including France, Florida, and Alaska. During those years they welcomed their two children, Thomas and Tamara.

Their marriage was marked by powerful passions and challenges. The couple divorced in 1964. Difficult times followed for the small family. Nancy worked hard as a single mother for several years, determined to provide for her children and keep the family together.

Shortly after her divorce, Nancy worked as a bookkeeper while raising her children. She later built a meaningful career as a guidance counselor at Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, where for many years she helped students plan their futures and encouraged them to pursue their goals.

In 1970, Nancy married Gerald “Jerry” Linn. Through Jerry’s hard work, love, and devotion, he brought stability and opportunity to the family. The new “Linn” family settled in Westminster, California, where they made their home in a traditional ranch-style house. Together they built a comfortable middle-class life filled with the everyday joys of family dogs, Little League games, and school band performances. Jerry later adopted Thomas and Tamara and lovingly raised them as his own.

Thomas with his wife, Kevil, has three sons and three grandchildren. Tamara with her husband, David, has one daughter and one granddaughter. Nancy treasured her role as a grandmother and great-grandmother and took great pride in the generations that followed her.

Jerry and Nancy shared many interests together, including a love of square dancing. They were an elegant and lively couple on the dance floor and spent many happy evenings dancing with friends.

Throughout her life, Nancy was deeply creative with arts and crafts. She was an excellent seamstress and made many of her own square dance outfits. She also created beautiful, handcrafted quilts, which she lovingly presented as treasured gifts to family and friends.

Nancy and Jerry remained married until his passing in 1998.

Nancy later married Paul Abeyta in August 1999, and they remained together until his passing in 2023. She often said she felt fortunate to experience such a loving partnership with Paul later in life. Nancy especially enjoyed the extended family she gained through her marriage to Paul. She warmly embraced the Abeyta family, including Paul’s three daughters, nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, uncles, and other members of the large and loving Abeyta clan.

Nancy’s life was defined by resilience, creativity, and deep love for her family. Whether sewing a dress, stitching a quilt, dancing across a floor, or offering encouragement to a student, she brought care, warmth, and determination to everything she did.

She will be remembered for the strength with which she faced life’s challenges. Her family takes comfort in knowing that the values she lived by—hard work, the value of education, creativity, and devotion to family—will continue through the generations she helped shape.

She will be dearly missed, lovingly remembered, and forever held in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

Our family would like to give a special thanks to Alda Santos, Nancy’s good friend for over 30 years. Alda assisted Nancy around the house when Nancy started to decline and gradually became her primary care giver. Nancy’s final year was so much better with Alda by her side.

Burial services will be held at 10:15 a.m. at Riverside National Cemetery, with a reception to follow at Nancy and Paul’s home, 11622 Valle Lindo, Moreno Valley, California.