Linda WalczakWalczak, Linda Marie (Johnson), 61, of Savin Hill passed away at home on December 27th from cancer, in the arms of her husband of 42 years and their two children. Linda grew up and spent most of her life in Dorchester. She was a vibrant, passionate, and generous soul.

The first in her family to attend college, she graduated summa cum laude from UMass Boston while engaged in protesting for farmworkers’ rights and against the Vietnam War, and later earned a Master of Education degree. She taught in the Boston Public Schools for nearly 30 years and found her life’s work in literacy. She taught hundreds of young children to read, and upon her retirement, volunteered with Project HOPE to share her talents with women in poverty. Teaching was more than a career, it was a creative outlet, and she designed experiences for her students around seasons, Boston historical events, and passions of her own.

After growing up in poverty herself, Linda took special interest in her neediest students, hosting field trips and providing food and transportation. Linda was a lover of literature, and had a magnificent collection of children’s books that she shared with the students and others in her life. Linda loved creating a beautiful world around her, decorating her home, especially during Christmas, and sharing in the natural beauty of New England. She found peace and happiness by the sea on Cape Cod in its thrift stores and bicycle paths, and loved her late dogs, Jessie and Molly. She will be remembered for her sharp wit and goofy sense of humor, her intellect and curiosity, her passion for progressive politics, and her fiery personality. She will be deeply missed by her loving best friend and husband Bill, her son Matthew, daughter Elizabeth, mother Josephine Johnson, and siblings William Johnson, Mary Jean Fielding, and Joanne Johnson. She leaves a cherished extended family, treasured friends from decades of teaching, and countless others whose lives she touched.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 1 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home at 1020 Dorchester Ave. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 2 at 11 a.m. at Blessed Mother Teresa Parish, 800 Columbia Road. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Linda M. Walczak Children’s Literacy Fund at the Boston Foundation, 75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116 or www.tbf.org/WalczakFund.