Linda Rita (Giannoccari) Bossé of Salem, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 22, 2026, following a period of declining health that she valiantly fought. She was 75 years old, just two days shy of her 76th birthday.
Linda was born on August 24, 1950, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the late Alfred A. and Martha R. (Resteghini) Giannoccari. She grew up in Stoneham with her loving parents and was the proud big sister to Martha, Mary Jeanne, Lisa, and Janet.
Linda graduated from Stoneham High School in 1968. That same year, she was inducted into the Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts, an organization that honors young women of Italian ancestry. She continued her education at Boston University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1972. In 2003, Linda graduated with honors from Salem State University with a Master’s degree in Special Education.
Linda lived in Stoneham until she married the love of her life and best friend, Paul J. Bossé, on a beautiful fall day in October 1976, a season that became their favorite time of year. In 1981, Linda and Paul settled in their home in Salem, where they created and shared more than four decades of cherished memories. They were looking forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this October.
In 1991, Linda earned her Educator’s Certificate from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education. She dedicated more than 20 years to teaching high school students, a career she described at her retirement party as “rich and rewarding,” one she was “very proud of and enjoyed immensely.” In the mid-1990s, Linda began her career as a business education teacher at Peabody High School. From 1999 through 2015, she worked as a special education teacher at Salem High School. Linda was a conscientious, caring, and creative educator whose strong advocacy for her students was well recognized throughout the school community. She supported her students with patience, humor, and compassion, both inside and outside the classroom. She went above and beyond to help students secure internships and employment opportunities throughout the North Shore. Together with Paul, she proudly attended their musical concerts, theater productions, and basketball games, always cheering them on and taking great pride in their accomplishments.
Beyond the classroom, Linda was a talented and creative woman with many passions and interests. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, she devoted countless weekends to baking and decorating beautiful cakes for family celebrations, special occasions, and those who purchased her creations. Linda had a deep appreciation for the arts and music. She loved to sing, quoting in her high school yearbook "Happiest when Signing." She was also an avid reader and gifted writer who found joy in the written word. A true perfectionist, Linda brought patience, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail to everything she created, particularly her artwork and beautiful calligraphy, which she lovingly featured on greeting cards she sent to family and friends.
Linda was also a longtime parishioner of Ste. Anne Church in Salem, where she was a former member of the church choir.
Linda found great joy in the simple pleasures of everyday life. She treasured long telephone conversations with family and close friends, shopping trips to the North Shore Mall, particularly visits to Macy’s, quick stop to Winfrey’s for a Figaro chocolate and quiet Sunday mornings reading the Boston Globe with a cup of coffee and Danish from Coffee Time Bakery. She enjoyed watching the Hallmark Channel, The Voice, CBS Sunday Morning, and Gilmore Girls with her granddaughter Julia. Linda especially loved the holidays, embracing the traditions, gatherings, and special moments that brought family together.
Above all else, Linda’s greatest love and passion was her family.
Linda was always there for her children, keeping their best interests at heart. She proudly attended their academic, athletic, and extracurricular activities and remained a constant source of love and support throughout their adulthood. Her presence was constant, her support unwavering, and her love unconditional.
To her grandchildren, Julia, Nathan, and Andrew, she was simply “Nonna.” She treasured attending their school events, piano recitals, and athletics and all the special moments that came with watching them grow. She especially enjoyed treating them to ice cream at Hodgie’s.
Linda cherished family trips with Paul, Michelle, Ryan, the grandchildren, and John Paul to coastal Maine and the New Hampshire White Mountains. She especially looked forward to creating memories together at Michelle and Ryan’s home during Thanksgiving week, Christmas school vacation, Easter, the Fourth of July, and birthday celebrations.
Linda was also a devoted lover of dogs, especially her beloved late pug, Jake, and in recent years, spending time with her granddog Reba.
Linda will be remembered for her beautiful smile, kindness, generosity, strength, and unwavering devotion to the people she loved. She had a remarkable ability to make ordinary moments special and to create memories that her family will carry with them for generations.
Linda is survived by her devoted husband of nearly fifty years, Paul J. Bossé of Salem; her daughter, Michelle Parsons, and her husband, Ryan, of Amesbury; her son, John Paul Bossé of Salem; and her beloved grandchildren, Julia and fraternal twins Nathan and Andrew Parsons.
She is also survived by her four sisters: Martha Lussier, Mary Jeanne Giannoccari and her fiancé, Kurt Legner, Lisa DeCola, and Janet Poulin and her husband, Frank, as well as her brother-in-law, Robert Bossé. Linda also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In addition to her parents, Linda was predeceased by her brothers-in-law, Paul DeCola, Gerald Lussier, and her sister-in-law, Janice Cudihy and extended family members.
The family is especially grateful to the compassionate assigned nurse and staff of Care Dimensions, NeighborGood Care, and Freedom Home Care for the kindness, dignity, and loving care they provided to Linda in the comfort of her home during the past several months.
Linda’s life was one of love, family, friendship, service, and countless cherished memories. Although her family will deeply miss her presence, her love will continue to live on in the traditions she created, the lessons she taught, the memories she made, and most of all, in the hearts of Paul, John Paul, Michelle, Ryan, Julia, Nathan, Andrew, and everyone who was fortunate enough to know and love her.
"To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever" – St. John Bosco
Relatives and Friends are invited to attend Linda's visiting hours on Friday, August 28, 2026 at the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette Street [Route 114 / 1-A] Salem, MA from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Her Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, August 29, at 11:00 AM at Ste. Anne Church, 290 Jefferson Avenue, Salem, MA followed by her burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem, MA. Information, directions, condolences at www.levesquefunerals.com
Contributions may be made in Linda's memory to Kaplan Family Hospice House (Care Dimensions) at www.caredimensions.org or NeighborGood Care at www.neighborgoodcare.org.