GILFORD---- Linda M. Kraft, 79, of Gilford, NH, passed away on Friday, May 1, 2020, peacefully at her home.
She was born to Bernard J. and Lillian (Zinn) Keenan on June 10,1940, in Wynnewood, PA. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1958 and attended Rosemont College in Rosemont, PA, where she graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Linda met her husband Peter Kraft in 1958, and after her college graduation they were married in September of 1962. They resided in Mount Vernon, New York, where their 3 children were born. They relocated to Laconia, NH, where they settled down and raised their family.
A love of helping people and being involved in her community, is what shaped Linda’s future. She was involved with nursery school classes, working in the offices of the Laconia Pediatrics and Lakes Region General Hospital for a combined total of 40 years. She was active with being a Girl Scout troop leader, involved with the League of Women’s Voters and the American Diabetes Association in organizing Walkathons. Her love for gardening was very apparent if you have ever driven by their house.
In retirement, Linda continued with her love of gardening, baking, traveling to the beaches on the Maine coastline, and visiting with her children and grandchildren. For their 25th wedding anniversary they traveled to Hawaii and for their 50th wedding anniversary, they were able to travel to Europe which had been a lifelong dream of hers! While Linda battled many medical challenges over the years, she did not allow those challenges to dictate how she would live her life. She found joy and peace in every moment, maintained her positivity and encouraged all of us to focus on how blessed our lives actually are.
Linda is survived by her husband of 57 years, Peter Kraft Sr. of Gilford, NH; her three children, Lori Kraft Shihad and her husband Matt, of Riverside, CA, Peter Kraft Jr. and his wife Robin, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Kathleen Kraft Cragin and her husband Rick, of Alton, NH. Her four grandchildren were her pride and joy: Nicole Shihad, Kirstin Shihad, Tylor Kraft and Bryan Shihad. Linda was preceded in death by her parents Bernard and Lillian Keenan and her brother Bernard J. Keenan Jr.
Due to virus restrictions, there will be a Celebration Of Life planned at a later date.
In Lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Diabetes Association, 10 Speen St. Second Floor, Framingham, MA, 01701.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.