Linda J. Grigerek

Linda J. Grigerek (née Johnson) died peacefully on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Tampa General Hospital in the arms of her husband and love of her life, Glen.

Linda was born on April 15, 1962, in Hartford, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Richard R. Johnson and Elanore Patricia Johnson. She grew up in West Hartford, where she graduated from Conard High School. As a child, Linda spent summers in Acton, Maine, with her beloved grandparents, Ralph and Rose Wentworth (née Kessler), in their 1800s colonial farmhouse, on land that had been in the family since before the Revolutionary War. Those summers were foundational, Rose, who was Linda’s safe harbor and anchor, provided the love and guidance that allowed her to thrive. Linda’s passion for planting seasonal flowers came from Rose.

After attending Keene State College, Linda returned to Connecticut to attend UCONN and worked as a paraprofessional at HARC, Inc., assisting individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate as valued members of their communities. Her work at HARC became the catalyst for a lifelong mission: helping those in need live with independence and dignity. She called it her “boot camp” for life. At UCONN, she loved her English classes. Her favorite book was the classic, Madame Bovary. Her professor, whom she had much esteem for, Clare Eby, taught her how to focus her attention and construct arguments in a clear, concise way. Anyone who knew her, knew one of Linda’s special gifts was to distill complex, convoluted issues into simple layman terms where the answer was evident to all.

With just a small loan from her family, Linda founded a little company known as Companions & Homemakers, Inc. in March 1990. From its humble beginnings, the company grew. She built the company with determination and the simple principal vision of “help people in need”. During her over 30 years of stewardship, Companions & Homemakers, Inc. became the largest woman-owned business in Connecticut and the leading provider of non-medical home care services in the state.

Linda lived by a strong moral compass that guided every decision she made. She believed in the power of self-improvement and remained steadfast in doing what was right, even when it was unpopular, challenged the status quo, or did not benefit her. Despite frequent pushback, she courageously honored her convictions, a defining trait that shaped both her personal and professional life. As an advocate for quality in-home elder care, Linda’s tireless efforts earned numerous accolades, including the Better Business Bureau’s Service and Marketplace Excellence Award, as well as recognition in the Connecticut Law Tribune’s Best of Homecare Companies from 2007 to 2009 to name a few. She also served as the founding president of the Connecticut chapter of the National Private Duty Association, further cementing her legacy as a pioneer and leader in the field. Above all, Linda viewed her mission of serving Connecticut’s aging population as both an honor and a privilege, dedicating herself to ensuring that the needs of the elderly she served were always placed above those of the business and industry itself. Her mantra of clients first, caregivers second and company last, set the tone for excellent customer service, an incredibly loyal staff, and the absolute best caregivers.

Similar to the intensity demonstrated professionally, Linda brought the same devotion and care to her relationship with the animal kingdom. She possessed a rare and gentle affinity for creatures of all kinds. From her love of feeding giraffes to coming eye-to-eye with a barracuda while snorkeling, from the quiet delight of a hummingbird nearly landing on her shoulder to the unforgettable moment when a Key deer kissed her on the lips, Linda met each encounter with awe and wonder. While she loved all animals, dogs held a truly special place in her heart as her lifelong companions. From Shelby, who faithfully attended college with her, to her beloved Sammie, the iconic symbol of the dog rescue and sanctuary she later founded, and all the dogs in between, her canine companions were a constant source of love and joy.

Linda’s formative experiences and deep connection to her ancestry in Acton, Maine, inspired her to create a dog rescue and sanctuary on family property in Maine in 2018. Named in honor of her beloved grandmother Rose Wentworth, the rescue has saved and placed over 1,400 dogs into loving homes, a lasting testament to Linda’s unwavering compassion and dedication to those in need. Following the sale of Companions & Homemakers, Inc. and her subsequent retirement in 2022, she dedicated herself to its growth and mission.

Despite her many accomplishments, Linda never took her achievements for granted. She was deeply grateful to the countless, dedicated caregivers, whose commitment made her mission of providing quality, dignified in-home care possible. She saw her accomplishments as an opportunity to stand up for what was just, advocating for those in need, whether human or animal. She never measured life by wealth or accolades, choosing instead to focus on ways to use what she had achieved to help those without a voice or advocate. Throughout her life, Linda’s generosity and core values were most evident in her ongoing support and contributions to charities close to her heart based on her own experiences and those of the people and animals she encountered along the way. At the end of the day, the simple things were those that mattered most to Linda, and these are the moments she would have been most proud to call her legacy, such as spending time with her treasured canines, finishing the Providence Marathon, the joy of planning vacation trips, or the thrill of catching a ball at a playoff game as a 3 generation Red Sox fan.

While Linda’s presence will be deeply missed by her friends and remaining family members, none will feel the loss more profoundly than her husband, Glen. After over 2 decades of marriage, he will be forever brokenhearted without her by his side, particularly her fiery spirit, steadfast determination, and the sparkle she brought to his life. Though she often playfully lamented how often Glen tested her patience, the two were like two halves of a whole, inseparable, and complete together. Like George Burns and Gracie Allen, they were affectionately known as the “Glen and Linda Show,” their lives were intertwined by shared adventure along with a deep and abiding love that withstood life’s toughest challenges. Linda also leaves behind her parents-in-law, Donald and Kathy Grigerek of Farmington, Connecticut; her sister-in-law, Jessica Grigerek, and niece, Josephine Prokop, of Harwinton; and her sister and brother-in-law Victoria and Steve Underwood and their children, David, Alison, and Michael Underwood.

She died too early. This world lost a bright shining light, and a true firecracker.

The single best word that can be used to describe Linda, is that she was “real”.

Funeral services will be private, with a spring burial in Acton, alongside her beloved grandparents, in the serene woods of Maine that she so cherished. A Celebration of Life will be shared with friends and family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grammy Rose Dog Rescue & Sanctuary (www.grammyrose.org) or to a charity of your choice that directly supports people or animals and is close to your heart.