Linda M. Alza

Linda Marie Alza (DiGregorio) of East Stoudsburg, PA passed peacefully in her sleep January 5, 2022 following many chronic ailments.
Linda was born in Jersey City on July 28, 1961 and raised in Landing, NJ. She is a 1979 graduate of Roxbury High School. 
As a young woman, Linda enjoyed music and would recount her best concert experiences whenever she heard her favorite songs on the radio and sing along. Until her final days, Linda always insisted that age was just a number and that she was always young at heart. 
Linda worked at Picatinny Arsenal as an administrative assistant where she met her husband of nearly 20 years, Alfredo Alza. The two married in 1987 and had their only child Carissa Marie in 1990. Linda was later delighted when Carissa married DJ Schnabel in 2019 and finally got a son to love.
Linda's largest source of pride was her daughter. She always said that Carissa was her biggest accomplishment and that, while God didn't give her multiple kids, she claimed He gave her the best one of 1990. Linda was willing to give anything in raising her daughter and was an involved parent, chaperoning field trips, leading girl scout troops, and becoming a band parent. She could always be heard hooting obnoxiously from the stands when the band took the football field with all the love and pride in her heart. 
Linda prioritized being an open book and willing resource for the young people in her life- from students she worked with as a hall monitor, to her niece and nephews, and of course, Carissa and her friends. As Carissa and her friends got older, she insisted on everyone calling her Mom. She was always available to talk through problems and gave advice from her own life experiences and hard-won "street smarts" and common sense. One of the best things about Linda was that once someone was brought into her life, Mom brought them into her heart.
Linda was a big believer in promoting independent women, the importance of family, loyalty, and respect, and the need for keeping some fun in life, the values which she did her best to embody and instill in others.
Linda was immensely proud of Carissa's success as the first member of her family to graduate college. Linda herself attended Northampton Community College and was a semester short of graduating with her degree in medical assisting when she fell ill in 2007 and was unable to return to school. However, she had made the dean's list during her time there, and her family is so proud of how hard she worked prior to her illness. 
Unfortunately, that illness lead to many other physical and mental health ailments that plagued her through the rest of her life and changed the way she interacted and perceived the world. However, behind her pain, evidence of her big spirit, young soul, and loving heart was able to shine through.
Linda will be remembered for her wise cracking sense of humor, knack for "telling it like it is", delicious Italian cooking, world's-best foot massages, ability to seemingly subsist on snack cakes, love of children and connecting with people, and great laugh. Most of all, Linda will be remembered for the fierce whole-hearted love she gave to her family and friends.
Linda was always happiest on the beach, where she tried to go each birthday. Because of her steadfast love and faith in the Lord, her earthside family feels great comfort that Linda is finally free of pain and can finally be at peace with her beloved family members that passed before her, namely her father Marco DiGregorio, mother Norine DiGregorio Robinson, and brother Mark DiGregorio. Her family likes to imagine that the four of them are on the most beautiful beach in Heaven enjoying homemade meatballs and baked ziti and teasing the heck out of each other. It's Linda's paradise, and she deserves it. 
Linda now protects her family with her love from above, including her daughter and son-in-law, Carissa and DJ Schnabel, her sister Lori Nieves, her nephews Justin and Joseph Nieves and Leshawn Newberry, niece Amanda Newberry, and great-niece Amaya Newberry. She is also loved and missed by her partner Butch Gregory, beloved companion dog, Buster, and many aunts, cousins, and lifelong friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local homeless shelter, food bank, or animal rescue. 

A viewing will be held on Saturday 1/15/22 beginning at 10 am, followed by a religious service at 11 am. Both events will be at Effort United Methodist Church, Merwinsburg Rd, Effort PA. Following these services, the burial will take place at Gilbert Cemetery. Events are being arranged by the Joseph J. Pula Funeral Home of Stroudsburg PA, though no services will be held there"

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