Obituary of Phyllis Linder

Phyllis Linder, a retired computer programmer and avid embroiderer, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 after an extended illness. She was 80 years old. Phyllis was born in Boston, the daughter of Manuel and Frances Schivek.  She grew up and was educated in Boston.  She earned her Associates Degree from Northeastern University and her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Lowell.  She was well ahead of her time when she picked a career in computer programming. She had worked at a wide variety of companies over her career from healthcare providers to defense contractors.

Phyllis was a true artist.  She loved working with her hands and had a creative mind. She was a talented seamstress and needle worker, and also enjoyed painting.  But, what she loved most was embroidery especially traditional Japanese. Her home is filled with countless pieces of her artwork which will be passed from generation to generation.  She was a member of the Merrimack Valley Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America (MVCEGA) and also the Burlington Quilters' Guild.  Phyllis along with many other MVCEGA artists, tirelessly worked on a huge quilt which was hung at Logan Airport commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks. Phyllis also had a keen ear for music.  She learned to play the piano from a teacher at the New England Conservatory of Music.  She especially enjoyed playing and listening to classical music.  It was this love of classical music that sparked her romance with her husband, Richard.  They both were living in Dorchester and were in a carpool with other Northeastern students.  When it came to decide the radio station to be played in the car, both of them requested the classical music station.  They might not have won the battle for the car radio station, but they found each other.  Their first date was to the Boston Symphony.  Over their 59 years of marriage, they continued their tradition of Friday night dates to the Boston Symphony, Pops, and many operas.

Phyllis was the beloved wife of 59 years of Richard Linder. She was the loving mother of Cheryl Drewes and her husband Timothy of Auburn, WA and Susan Linder of Tewksbury. She was predeceased by her sister, Sandra Mason. She was the proud grandmother of Isaac Drewes of Rochester, NY. She was a very special aunt to Ann (Mason) Colby, and the late Miriam and David Mason and special great aunt of Samantha, Rachel and Alexander Colby and Jamaal and Jaden Mason.

At Phyllis’s request, funeral services were private. Memorials in her name may be made to a charity of one’s own choice. For obituary and online guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net