Linda J. (Wilcox) MacPhail, age 81, a resident of Winchester, former resident of Westford, MA, passed away from sudden illness on May 7, 2024. She was the beloved wife for almost 50 years of the late John D. MacPhail. Born in Keene, New Hampshire, Linda was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Maxine Wilcox.
Linda was raised in Royalston, MA. She graduated from Athol High School in 1960 and received a degree in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1964. She was a member of Lambda Delta Phi sorority while a student at UMass.
Linda married her husband, John D. MacPhail in 1965 in Royalston, MA. She was a homemaker until she returned to the work force in the 1980’s. While caring for her children, Linda acted as a Girl Scout leader, Den Mother for the Cub Scouts and participated in many local clubs.
Linda worked as an aide at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Library until she began her position as library assistant at the Pollard Memorial Library in 1989, where she worked until her retirement in 2002.
Linda cared for her mother, Maxine Wilcox, until her death in 2003.
In retirement, Linda enjoyed reading, doing the Globe crossword puzzle in ink, following all the Boston sports teams, travel and volunteer work. Linda was primary caretaker for her husband, John, who suffered from Lewy-Body Dementia, until his death in 2015.
Linda is lovingly survived by her children, Sarah Gosselin of Winchester, MA and Duncan K. MacPhail of Lowell, MA; grandchildren John E. Gosselin of Burlington, VT, Oliver K. Gosselin and Andrew S. Gosselin, both of Winchester, MA. She is also survived by her twin sister, Mary Elder of Paris, ME, in-laws, Jody and Ilan Fisher of Sharon, MA, several nieces and nephews, and family friend, John T. Gosselin of Winchester, MA.
A Visitation will be held at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, MA on Wed., May 22, 2024, from 11AM to 1PM. A Memorial Service in the funeral home will follow at 1PM. Burial in Royalston, MA is private.
Donations in Linda’s memory may be made to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund https://curealz.org/giving/donate/. One hundred percent of funds donated to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund is directed to research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.
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