Linda M. Beckles

Linda Maud Beckles was born on September 30, 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica. She was the 8th of 9 children for David Leopold (Irish immigrant) and Iris Maud Ffrench (Panamanian descent). Linda grew up in a loving Catholic home with her six protective brothers; Vassel (deceased), Bertram (deceased), Rodolph (deceased), Cecil (deceased), Michael and Danny as well as her two sisters, and best friends, Adelaide (Cherry) and Pearline. Being the youngest girl, she was so cherished by her siblings that they nicknamed her Dolly. Dolly attended Greenwich Town Government School in Jamaica. She was an excellent student who was adored by her teachers and peers. Dolly’s early years on the beautiful island of Jamaica were filled with the sweet sounds of reggae music, cooking fish with family, enjoying the gorgeous beaches, rivers, and warm sunshine. Her sisters lovingly recall the early days of playing soccer, horseback riding, running track, playing tons of childhood games and, of course, getting into lots of trouble. The large Ffrench family was well respected in the community of Greenwich Farm. Her father worked in the import/export industry, and her mother was a respected vendor in the retail fish business. Sadly, her father, David, passed away when Dolly was only a toddler. Her older siblings, especially her sister Cherry, became her primary caretakers, which created an extraordinary special bond between the sisters that lasted a lifetime. As a young adult in Jamaica, Dolly was a hard worker in the retail industry as well as real estate, where she was quickly promoted at the firm. While excelling at work, Dolly’s deep affection for her family remained steadfast. She played a very active role in the lives of her sister, Cherry’s children - Pam, Shirley, Kelvin and Steve. Among the many blessings she had in Jamaica, one of the greatest was the birth of her oldest son, Mark Wesley. In 1975, Dolly followed her adventurous spirit to pursue her next chapter in the United States. She was living in Brooklyn, NY when she met the love of her life, Nathaniel Beckles, Jr., “June” as she called him. They were married in September, 1978 and moved to Stamford Connecticut. As a prayerful woman, together they made the church and God the center of their lives and home. The marriage was blessed with two incredible sons, Nate and David. Dolly loved her community and life in Stamford. She often participated in local charity events for the schools, neighborhood and church. She worked as a beloved administrator at the Atria Stamford assisted living facility until she retired. The Atria became her second home. She was admired for her excellent work ethic and adored by all of the staff and patients. She was a dedicated jogger and tennis player, and absolutely loved to spend her summer days at the beach. Dolly was a devoted mother and disciplinarian who happily dedicated her life to her three boys and their families. She was a quiet yet spirited ice hockey mom, traveling all over to help the boys meet their athletic goals. She beamed with pride at the mention of her sons and would often brag about Mark, her talented visual designer, Nate, her successful financier and David, her accomplished pathologist assistant. She was lucky enough to be blessed with three wonderful and loving daughters-in-law, Winter, Lara and Tatyana. In the mid 2000s, Dolly’s medical issues began, which she fought hard for many years. These challenges inspired her to become even more focused on spending time with family and ensuring that her spiritual life aligned with her Christian beliefs and values. Her blessings multiplied tenfold when she became a grandmother to her cherished Grayden, Iris and Denzel. “Gam Gam” as they called her, made the absolute most of the precious time she spent with her treasured grandchildren. She celebrated holidays and birthdays, cooked special pasta and meals, enjoyed rainbow bagels on Sundays and spent lots of time chasing them around on the beach and in the yard. She took every moment to show her endless love to them. Dolly will be missed fiercely, she was our family’s North Star, always guiding us with wisdom and love. She taught us invaluable lessons about God’s love and family togetherness. We will greatly miss her delicious oxtail, Escovitch fish, jerk chicken and all the love that she poured into her family and friends. “Dolly” our beloved Sister, Wife, Mother, Gamgam, Auntie and friend, “In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still, in our hearts you hold a place that no one could ever fill”. Linda is survived by her husband, Nathaniel, (“June”), her children, Mark and Tatyana, Nate and Winter, David and Lara, her grandchildren, Grayden, Iris and Denzel, her sisters, Adelaide (Cherry) and Pearline, her brothers, Michael and Eric, as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, April 21st from 4pm to 8pm at Bosak Funeral Home & Cremation, 453 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday, April 22nd at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 1200 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery, 66 Woodland Place, Stamford, CT. If you wish to make an online remembrance for the family, you may sign the family guestbook at www.bosakfuneralhome.com or www.facebook.com/bosakfuneralhome.

Linda M. Beckles

September 30, 1951 - April 9, 2025