Linda Carol Smith

Linda Smith (Linda Carol Kerr) was born on January 13, 1948, in Hammond, Indiana, to Lena and William Holland. The second of four children, she grew up alongside her siblings Sandra Troyer, Patrick Kerr, and Maurice Kerr — and was known, by her own proud account, as "the good one." Her children found this characterization equal parts endearing and suspect.

To know Linda was to know someone who took up space in the best possible way. Direct, decisive, and unapologetically bold, she was the kind of person who made things happen and made sure everyone around her knew it. Some might call her a handful. Most would simply call her unforgettable.

Linda dedicated her life to the service of others, and her greatest expression of that commitment was her career in nursing. She earned her nursing degree from the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, and built her early career in the high-acuity environments of the Operating Room and Emergency Department — fields that demanded exactly the kind of decisive, unflappable presence she brought naturally. In later years, she moved into case management and nursing leadership, where she guided complex patient care with the same command she'd always carried at the bedside. The relationships she built with her multidisciplinary colleagues were among her most treasured — many of them lasting until the very end of her life.

Beyond her profession, Linda's deepest loves were her family. Her son, Richard Adam Cataldo Jr., was born in Miami, Florida, in 1979, and her daughter, Tracey Leigh Cataldo, born in Denville, New Jersey, in 1982.

Later in life, Linda found her perfect match in Dennis Smith. They married on July 9th 2016 and built a life together grounded in adventure, devotion, and genuine partnership. Dennis's quiet sweetness and deep compassion met Linda's directness in a way that balanced and completed her — and it was that steady love that carried her through the final chapter of her life.

Linda loved to live well and to bring others along for the ride. She traveled broadly and continued exploring the world until her final years. She appreciated the finer things — good food, a worthy beverage, a beautiful hotel — and had an eye for experience over mere event. She was genuinely curious about the people around her, always eager to learn your story while generously sharing her own. A room was different when Linda was in it.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Sandra Troyer and Maurice Kerr; and her beloved son, Richard Adam Cataldo Jr.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis Smith, of Hampton, New Jersey; her daughter, Tracey Cataldo, of Seattle, Washington; and her cherished companions, Kitzy and Teddy.

Her family hopes that in her passing, Linda has found exactly what she always gave so freely to others — presence, peace, and a very good time. She was never one to miss an adventure, and we trust she is not starting now.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 13th, 11am at Clinton United Methodist Church. 12 Halstead St. Clinton, NJ 08809. Arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Linda’s memory can be made to American Nurses Foundation