Linda Zator

Linda Ann Zator, 72, born September 18, 1948, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2021.
Beloved daughter of Edward (2009) and Ethel (2019) Zator, sister of William Zator and Gail Zator, aunt of Scott and Brandon Zator.

Service on Monday, March 8, 2021, from 9:30am to 10:30am at Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home, 9568 Belmont Avenue, Franklin Park, 60131.
Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am at St. Gertrude Church, 9613 Schiller Blvd., Franklin Park, 60131.
Burial will be at St. Adalbert Cemetery, 6800 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, 60714.

In lieu of flowers, please make donation to Leyden Retarded Center for Adults, 8607 W. Arnold St., River Grove, Illinois,  60171.

Born with Down Syndrome, Linda loved everyone she met, and was quick to give a hug.  She was one of the early members of the Leyden Retarded Center for Adults (LRCA) in River Grove.  Linda was part of a pilot study program at River Grove School to set up classes for trainable children, and she graduated from elementary school in 1965.  For many years Linda attended the LRCA workshop along with other mentally handicapped young adults, who forged strong friendships as they grew older.  Linda enjoyed bowling on the LRCA’s bowling league, and participating in the monthly dances – oh how she loved to dance!  Elvis Presley was her favorite, and she had all his albums.  When one of his movies was on television, and with only one TV in the house, you just knew you were going to be watching Elvis that night.  A die-hard Cubs fan, in the late 1960’s in Ernie Banks’ era, Linda could tell you every player and what position they played – and if the Cubs were losing 10-0 in the bottom of the ninth and you asked her, Linda would say for certain the Cubs were going to win the game!  Maybe she can help them win another World Series!

Linda surely was one of Heaven’s Very Special Children . . .
A meeting was held quite far from Earth,
“It’s time again for another birth,”
Said the Angels to the Lord above.
This Special Child will need much love,
Her progress may seem very slow,
Accomplishments she may not show,
And she’ll require extra care
From the folks she meets way down there.
She may not run or laugh or play,
Her thoughts may seem quite far away.
In many ways she won’t adapt,
And she’ll be known as handicapped.
We want her life to be content.
Please, Lord, find parents who
ill do a special job for you.
They will not realize right away
The leading role they’re asked to play.
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love,
And soon they’ll know the privilege given
In caring for this gift from Heaven,
Their precious charge, so meek and mild,
Is Heaven’s Very Special Child.
Author Unknown