Ermelinda Holden

Ermelinda “Linda” Holden, 65, of Lyndonville, died peacefully with family present on December 17, 2024, at The Pines Health & Rehabilitation.

Ermelinda was born in Hartford, CT on April 14, 1959, the daughter of Manuel and Mary Lou Cruz. She moved to Vermont after high school and settled in Wheelock, VT where she raised six kids with her husband, Mark Holden. She enjoyed music and being outdoors. Linda also loved to garden, take walks and dance. She was a great writer and enjoyed writing in her journal. She loved cooking, baking and sharing her recipes with her kids. Linda had a passion for helping others and advocated for community resources for mental health and addiction. A dedication she held dear to her heart.

Linda’s greatest joy of all was her family. She was so proud of them. She loved being a parent and especially a grandmother. She often spent time with her grandkids, always arriving to visit with something special for them. She would always devote so much attention to them, playing games, reading or coloring. Her caring generous soul will be missed deeply by her family and friends. She will remain in our hearts forever. In Linda’s own words “be good and do good” a phrase she’d often say to her kids, leaving such an impression on them to better the world.

She leaves behind two daughters , three sons , brothers, sisters , nieces , nephews, and grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents, her son Marc Holden, her husband Mark Holden, and longtime recent partner Edward Shattuck. 

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 3 pm at Sayles Funeral home, 525 Summer Street, St. Johnsbury, VT. Friends may call on the family beginning at 2pm. A private burial will be held in the spring at Newport Center Cemetery. 

Condolences can be shared with the family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com