Linda was born on April 22nd, 1945 to parents Ailene Hunt and Stanley Smith in Goldsboro, North Carolina where Stanley was stationed as a Radio Operator during World War II. As a family, they moved back to San Diego in late 1945, and Linda lived out her childhood in the picturesque neighborhood of North Park. As a young girl, she attended St. Patrick's Catholic Grammar School followed by Rosary High School, and later, San Diego University where she received her BA in Social Work.
Linda met her husband of 53 years, Ernest Grosso, at a Naval Officers' dance in December 1966 where her friends snuck her in through the kitchen as she was under-age (a detail that always made her laugh when she retold the story). The couple married six months later and she moved to Seattle briefly before settling in Walnut Creek, California while Ernest attended Optometry School at University of Berkeley, California. It was here that Linda and Ernest made close, lifetime friends. After returning to San Diego to raise their family, the couple often travelled back to the bay area, often many times a year, as it became a home-away-from-home for them.
The couple had three children whom Linda doted on. She never missed her sons' Little League games, was always on the side-lined at each soccer game with orange slices and plenty of words of encouragement, or up early every Saturday to get her daughter on the racing block at swimming practice on time. Later in life, on each of her children's birthday, Linda would proudly wear picture badges from the children's AYSO and Little League days to show how proud she was of each of her "babies." This overwhelming pride and joy extended to Linda's three grandchildren whom she adored. She loved taking them to story-telling hour at the local library when they were little (followed by a secret stop to the cupcake shop), and as they grew, Linda never missed a chance to be in the kitchen with them passing on her love of cooking or cheering them on as they swam lap after lap in her pool.
Linda was very creative and her hands were always busy; whether crocheting blankets for charities in Tijuana, doing her much loved cross-stitch creating beautiful Christmas stockings for her family, or cooking one of her many beloved dishes. She also loved to travel with her husband, and the spent many years leading up to, and then into, retirement enjoying their favorite cities of San Francisco and Palm Springs.
Linda will be deeply missed by her husband Ernest, her sons Matt and Scott, and her daughter Kelly Cracknell, her son-in-law Stuart Cracknell, and her grandchildren Lilly, Isla, and Noah Cracknell.
In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 9, 2020 at Mission San Diego de Alcala in the Courtyard.
One week later, a Committal Service will happen at 1:00 PM on Friday, October 16, 2020 at Miramar National Cemetery.
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