Linda Capitano, a Lindenhurst resident and a graduate of Lindenhurst High School Class of 1969, died of ovarian cancer August 2, 2007. She was 57- years-old, and described by her family as a vibrant woman who did not let anything, including her illness, alter her outgoing, loving spirit. And, despite difficulties and tragedies in her life, she always rose to the occasion.

Mrs. Capitano was born in Jamaica, Queens on March 5, 1950 and moved to Lindenhurst at the age of three. As a young girl, she would stand in front of the television with her friend Liz and dance to the music of American Bandstand.

"She was an excellent dancer," said her sister Elvira Luzzo. "Just one month ago, Linda, as sick as she was, got out of bed and did the Bristal Stomp."

Growing up, Ms. Capitano took on a motherly role as the oldest child, said her sister Jeanne Mrowka. "I remember when my sister Linda was 13, my sister Elvira was 10 and I was 7, how she would cook TV dinners for us because that was all she could cook when my mother was working," said Jeanne.

As a young mother, Ms. Capitano suffered the loss of her first daughter Michelle, who was tragically killed 1979. She was six-years-old. She later divorced her first husband and struggled for two years as a single mother until she married Charles Capitano in 1989.

Mrs. Capitano worked at Purist Electronics for 14 years in Bethpage as an electronic assembler. "She liked working with her hands," said her daughter, Christine Lawler. "She worked up to June 18, 2007."

In addition to spending time with her family, Mrs. Capitano liked to travel. She loved the slot machines in Atlantic City and would take a yearly trip there with her mother, Jeanne Krauss, her aunt Honey, and her sister Jeannie. "It was fun, it was our yearly thing," said her sister.

She also took her daughters, Christine and Patricia to Myrtle Beach, North Carolina five years ago. And they would take trips to Florida to visit her mother and stepdad David Detota. She loved the water and made day trips to Splish Splash.

Her daughter Christine said her mother loved to play scratch offs and won $160 on her birthday this year. "She also loved going to Bingo at Our Lady of Lourdes in Farmingdale." she added. Her sister and Bingo partner Elvira remembers her sister as, "a very spirited, warm, and a loving person." Her daughter Christine remembers her as a woman whose trademark was her smile and who never dwelled on her illness.

Jeanne said she and her sister also enjoyed taking workshops in West Islip on therapeutic touch and holistic healing. "She also loved aromatherapy," she said.

As a resident of Lindenhurst, Ms. Capitano's favorite restaurant was Spoons and Sergio's in Massapequa. Mike, the owner of Sergio's, offered his appreciation of Ms. Capitano's patronage by donating trays of food at the luncheon after the funeral.

Even though Ms. Capitano frequented her favorite restaurants, she also loved to cook.

"She was a great cook," said Elvira. "You could always count on her to make huge meals for every-

one. Her specialty was Italian cooking."

Mrs. Capitano reposed at the D'Andrea Brothers Funeral Home, 99 Oak St., Copiague until Wednesday, Aug. 8, when a funeral Mass was said at Our Lady of Assumption R.C. Church, Copiague. Interment was in Pinelawn Memorial Park.