Linda M Ashe's Obituary
Dr. Linda Gail Meritt Ashe, 76, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2016 in the presence of loving family.
She was the youngest daughter of the late Joseph and Florence “Vera” Meritt of Rochester, New York. An extraordinary woman, Linda lived life to glorify God and for the passionate care and service of others. In partnership with her husband, Dr. Thomas Ashe, they discerned God’s will and began their life of serving others. Beginning with a career in chiropractic care, they opened Ashe Chiropractic Offices in Wilmington, Delaware in 1977. After 28 years, they were called to a new mission and in 2005 became the Spiritual Retreat Directors for The Well Retreat Center in Smithfield, Virginia. For the next 8 years, side-by-side, they followed their passion for ministry and their devotion to Christ Jesus by hosting and leading spiritual retreats.
In 2014, Linda retired to Florida with her husband Tom and enjoyed various activities – from synchronized swimming with the SyncroBelles to photography club competitions. Never without her camera, Linda delighted in capturing the memories of family and friends and the beauty of nature. Throughout her life she created beautiful gardens, whistled with the birds and found beauty in every creature she came across.
Linda had a great sense of humor and deep love for the Lord which guided her every day. Her positive attitude never faltered and one couldn’t help but be transformed by the joy she took in her faith. Never relying on a recipe, Linda was gifted beyond measure in the creative ways she prepared meals and soups. She delighted family, friends and visitors with her homemade meals, reminding them that the “secret ingredient” in her cooking was love. Hers was a life devoted to serving others, whether it was her chiropractic patients, retreatants at The Well or members of her church family. Linda never met a stranger, only a friend whose name she did not yet know.
Linda is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Dr. Thomas Ashe and her seven children: Bill (Angela) Ashe, Karen Booth, Greg (Gail) Ashe, Susan (Tom) Bechtold, Thomas (Leticia) Ashe, Theresa (Danny) Capasso and Debi McKinney (Tim). She was “Grammy” to 11 children on Earth: Aidan, Jamison, John, Peter, C.J., Nick, Alex, Elizabeth, Claudia, Joseph and Isabella and three in Heaven, including grandson Donald Booth Jr. She was also a beloved sister to Roger Meritt and Rita Goebert.
Services will be held at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, FL at 10:30, Wednesday, August 17th.
A second service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, August 20th at Church of the Good Shepherd in Smithfield, VA. The family will receive friends for a visitation prior to services from 10 am to 11 am.
A final Celebration of Life will take place at 10:00 a.m., August 22nd at St. Helena's Catholic Church, Wilmington, DE.
In lieu of flowers Linda would have wanted any donations in her memory to go to either:
Spiritual Direction Institute of Tidewater
305 Champions Path, Yorktown, VA. 23693
or
Suncoast Hospice
2675 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor, Florida 34684
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