Linda Leeders

Linda Leeders was born on June 24, 1927 and passed away on March 20, 2025 at the age of 97. She grew up in Switzerland as one of ten children in the Barbettini family and had an identical twin sister, Oliva. As a young woman, Linda immigrated to the United States and lived with her Uncle M.A. Barbettini in Santa Rosa on a poultry farm on Piner Road.

In a 1948, she took a night class in Americanization from Santa Rosa High School. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat published a Thanksgiving article about this class and noted that even though people in Switzerland enjoy more freedom and better living conditions than most people in Europe, Linda was glad to be here. Linda stated: “People in America don’t realize how lucky they are to be American citizens.” She became a United States citizen in 1956.

Linda Barbettini wed Lawrence Leeders in 1956 with their marriage lasting 49 years until Lawrence’s passing in 2005. They had three children: Karen, Lawrence Jr. and Deborah. Linda served as an instructional assistant at McKee Elementary School in Elk Grove and later worked for many years as a nursing assistant at the Elk Grove Convalescent Hospital.

Linda loved watching sports and was also, very lucky with casino slot machines. She enjoyed time with her four grandsons: Joseph, Benjamin, Lawrence Jr. III, and Nicholas. Linda also delighted in daily walks with “neighborly talks” on Bauer Avenue in Galt with her kitties, Bart and Brett.

In her final years, Linda received exceptional care by Maria and her staff at Foothills Senior Care in Roseville. Her very special caregivers, Reva, Coletta and Octavia, provided Linda with daily care, humor, and much love. In addition, Advance Hospice staff members, Anna, Stacy, Kristin, Lauren, Angel and Tim were very supportive with Linda’s comfort care needs in her final months.

In Linda’s memory, let us commit to nurturing and supporting others that includes enjoying precious time making sweet memories with family and friends. Remembrances can also be made to Alzheimer’s Disease research.