Linda Lizabeth Prinsen

After nearly 75 years of a vivacious, loving, and adventurous life, Linda Lizabeth Prinsen passed away peacefully on September 3, 2022, from complications of a traumatic brain injury sustained in the summer of 2021.

Linda was born September 23, 1947 in Albany, Oregon, the youngest of three to Pearl (Arant) Prinsen and Bernie Prinsen. In her school years she excelled at music and theater and was involved in many activities.

Linda’s life was one of service, adventure, and friendship. She taught Drama, English and Spanish, working for many years at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham. She was an energetic, devoted and loving single-mother to her daughter Harmony and delighted in becoming a grandmother later in her life. At 65 she joined the Peace Corps, teaching English in Thailand. She loved to travel and assisted medical and humanitarian efforts in a number of countries. She used her ukulele to bring joy and make connections in nursing homes near home and when traveling abroad. Her adventures included walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the John Muir Way in Scotland.

A wonderful person, so full of life, Linda touched many people with her generosity, friendship and love. She stayed in touch with every person whose path crossed hers. She was an enthusiastic member of many communities: the recovery community; her hiking group, the Mazamas; her crafting group, the Creative Goddesses; her neighbors in the Richmond neighborhood and in the tri-plex that was her longtime home; her classmates from Albany High, OSU and PSU; her PeaceCorps, service work, and ukulele buddies; and so many more.

Linda’s friends remember her as one-of-a-kind, irresistible, deep, funny, heartfelt, amazing, open, loving, compassionate, joyful, kind, adventurous, beautiful, badass, thoughtful, caring, a bright spirit, insightful, an effective leader, very creative, and a lot of fun. A gift to humanity. A beautiful, generous soul who brought much joy and happiness to so many throughout the world.

Linda was predeceased by her brother John, her parents, and several close friends. She is survived by her daughter Harmony McDonald-Prinsen (husband Tommy), grandsons Calvin & Jasper, Pamela Wesche (and husband Bruce), her nieces and nephews and cousins, and a great number of cherished friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Village Ballroom (704 NE Dekum, Portland 97211) from 3-5pm on Sunday, Oct. 2nd. The program will begin at 3:30pm. Please feel free to bring your Uke or an instrument for a sing along!

Please feel free to join us online if you are unable to come in person to the celebration of life. The program will begin at 3:30. Feel free to join at 3:25pm.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us05web.zoom.us/j/85844790424?pwd=M2xCWTFXdGY5bkI2cGhDaUw1cTNTdz09

Meeting ID: 858 4479 0424

Passcode: H2JKag