Linda Margaret (Wiber) Large

Linda Margaret Large (nee Wiber)

October 8, 1946 – June 13, 2018

Linda died on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, just after 6pm, at the date and time of her choosing. She died at her beloved home of 43 years, surrounded and showered by Love, with her son and daughter holding her hands, a dear family friend massaging her legs and feet, and the sound of her grandsons playing in the background, while assisted by two caring and compassionate medical professionals. She was smiling.

Linda was born in Windsor, Ontario, and moved to North Bay in the 1950s. She grew up in North Bay and spent her youth there. She attended Pinewood School and Algonquin Composite in North Bay. After university in both Toronto and Thunder Bay and short-term teaching position at Aurora Public School, she returned to North Bay where she resided in Corbeil at her current home for 43 years. Linda was a professor of language arts at Canadore College for 25 years before retiring in 2012. In her retirement, Linda traveled extensively with friends, Ed and Helen Eng, and Denis and Susan O’Donnell. She also rejoiced in the birth of her two grandsons, Liam and Eli, and enjoyed spending quality time with them at her home, at the beach on Saturdays and playing in their backyard. A true student at heart, Linda enjoyed exploring and learning, and a true teacher at heart, she enjoyed sharing what she had learned with others.

In her last days, Linda spent many hours with her loved ones in her gardens, particularly by the blooming lilac bush. And in her last months of life, Linda was surrounded by loved ones, both friends and family, while celebrating her life by delighting in good food, stories and listening to her grandsons playing.

Linda will be remembered lovingly by her children, Jane and Daniel Large, and her grandson’s, Liam and Eli Large (Daniel’s children), and by her former husband, John Large and the entire Large Family. Her memory will be cherished by her sister and brothers, Katherine Taylor, Ralph Wiber and Ian Wiber, and by the wider Wiber family. Her many friends in the community and afar with remember her as a fun-loving and community-minded spirit who enjoyed beautiful gardens, fine food and wine (particularly cooking and baking her own artisan breads), and the arts – from galleries exhibitions and ancient architecture to theatre and the symphony.

In the spirit of this inspirational vision that my brother and I have created, we welcome you all to the 2-part Celebration of Life for our mother, Linda Large, on Friday, June 29, 2018: We gather together celebrating the wholeness and beauty of Linda’s life in a joyous way that is inclusive to all.

We will begin with a sit-down memorial at the WKP Gallery, housed at the Capitol Centre in downtown North Bay. The memorial will begin at 11am, with the gallery opening at 10:30am for arrivals. Following the memorial, we invite everyone to a community social from 1-4pm at White Water Gallery where there will be light refreshments and a multi-media slide show of Linda’s life. White Water Gallery is just down the block from the Capitol Centre, a 2-minute walk.

Parking is available at various lots in the downtown core of the city (across from City Hall off Main St. and McIntyre, and by the museum off Oak St.) Please arrive in enough time to park and enjoy the newly installed art exhibition at WKP Gallery. Please note, however, that parking may be very limited at the Capitol Centre lot due to a graduation ceremony happening that same morning. Fitting, we feel like my mother is graduated too…on to her next phase of adventure.

For those who would like to make donations in her honour, we suggest both the White Water Gallery and the North Bay Symphony Orchestra. Flowers and cards may be sent to her home, or delivered the day of the Celebration to either WKP or White Water. Please use the key words, Linda Large Memorial, if sending flowers to the Celebration venues.

We look forward to seeing you there.