was born in 1956 in Canandaigua, New York. She grew up above her family’s bakery, secure in the unwavering and unquestioning love of her father, the late Renato “Ray” Vecchi, her mother Betty Vecchi, and her three older sisters: Pamela, Diana and Rena. Linda was a loving daughter and sister, and a constant source of pride to her family, both for her achievements and for her consistently kind and caring nature. During her early years in Canandaigua, she developed her lifelong passions for family, friendship, reading, nature, the theatre, and music.
Linda’s passion for the study of English literature brought her to St. Bonaventure University, where she completed her M.A. degree, and to the University of Western Ontario, where she completed her doctorate. At Western, she met and befriended Mark Cumming, whom she married in 1983. She was his loyal and loving companion for almost thirty years, and an amazingly supportive and attentive mother to their two wonderful children, Alessandra Elizabeth Vecchi Cumming and Emily Anne Vecchi Cumming. From 1984 on, Linda made her home in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, where she taught with distinction in the English department of Memorial University, serving as an uncommonly engaging and compassionate teacher and an unfailingly warm-hearted and supportive colleague.
In 1994, Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer, and while her cancer was in remission for thirteen active and productive years, it returned inexorably in the fall of 2007. From that point until the end of her beautiful life, on March 23, 2010, she faced her disease with characteristic grace and courage. True to her pledge, she resisted until the very end the devastating illness which threatened to remove her from the family she loved so dearly. Linda is fondly remembered by Betty, Pam and Skip, Diana and Bill, Rena and Eric, Mark, Allie and Emily, by her extended families in the United States and Canada, and by many friends and colleagues.
A memorial celebration of Linda Vecchi will be held at the D.F. Cook Recital Hall, School of Music, Memorial University at 10 a.m. this Saturday, March 27. Parking is available adjacent to the Music Building in lot 15B. In lieu of flowers, we ask that friends make donations this fall to the Run for the Cure and to the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope.