Linda Housel

Guilderland - Linda Housel, 68, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on January 4, 2017 in the comfort of her home. The daughter of the late Lyman and Ruth (Warner) Conrad, Linda was born in Watervliet, NY on February 1, 1948. She attended Watervliet City Schools.

A devoted wife and mother, Linda enjoyed her years raising her young family. From nightly dinners together to weekend family excursions, Linda truly enjoyed spending time with her loved ones. When her children were small, they spent many weekends boating on the Mohawk River. She loved to travel, with some of her favorite vacations in the Caribbean Islands and Canada. She also enjoyed traveling with her sisters, especially some memorable trips to California and Mexico. There was no place she loved more in the winter than her home in Florida where she and her husband would escape the cold of the Northeast and look forward to hosting any family members who might visit them there.

Linda was always on the go, boasting a wide range of hobbies and interests throughout her life. She was an avid gardener, who was always happy to brighten your day by sharing fruits, vegetables or flowers that she had personally grown in her garden. Linda's love for animals was evident with family pets ranging from the exotic to the more domesticated throughout the years, with her most recent being a Yorkie named "Frankie". She was in a bowling league, played bingo, and loved playing cards, especially blackjack. It was, however, in 1997 that she started playing golf with her husband and siblings. Within a short period of time, Linda grew to love the sport and went on to join leagues in both New York and Florida, meeting some of her closest friends and serving as the Treasurer for the Joan Armstrong Ladies Golf League at Whispering Pines in Guilderland.

Linda shared a special bond with each of her children and grandchildren, who affectionately knew her as "Mimi". She will be remembered most for her devotion to her family, her warm smile and her genuine desire to always nurture and help others.

She is survived by her devoted husband Julian Housel; her loving children: Jake (Donna) Watson, Tony (Chris) Watson, Kyle Housel and Shelly Housel; her beloved grandchildren: Laci Lanahan, Brandon, Kirstyn, Jacob, Ryan, Kylee and Ethan Watson and Elijah Housel; her great-grandson Thomas Leone; her siblings: Dixie Pontore, Charles Conrad, Hazel Tallman, Gary and Lyman Conrad; her mother-in-law Stella Housel and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, Linda was predeceased by her first husband, Anthony Watson; her son Alfred "Butch" Watson; her siblings: Diane Robillard, Patricia Tricomi, Edith Burns, and Susan Connors.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the Community Hospice of Schenectady and Linda's nurses, Sue Stewart and Hope Neikirk for their loving and compassionate care.

Memorial visitation will be held from 4 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at New Comer Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie. A memorial service will follow at 7 pm.