Linda Sue Kaskisto

Linda Sue Kaskisto was born on April 30, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois; the daughter of Sulo and Helen (Kangas) Kaskisto. She was raised in Chicago where she attended school. Linda was born mentally disabled. Although she had deficits growing up, that did not stop her from being a light to others life.

Linda was a long-time resident of the Brotoloc Home in Ellsworth; being one of their first residents. Family meant so very much to her and she lit up like a Christmas tree when they came to see her. It definitely felt like home when her sister Kathy and her nieces worked at Brotoloc. She had an ironclad memory and felt so very proud when she gave birthday cards to her nieces and nephews. If it wasn't that, she enjoyed giving them a new pair of socks! You could usually find her with a little cash in her pocket.

Over her adulthood, she enjoyed her time working custodial at English Lutheran Church, as well as in the Laundromat at Ellsworth Nursing Home. She also enjoyed her travels to Illinois and South Carolina to visit her sisters, as well as listening to some good ole country music. Nothing gave her more meaning than to be close to those she loved; her biological family and her Brotoloc family. Her eyes lit up and she would giggle. She had a hankering for McDonalds' cheeseburgers and more lately, chicken drumsticks. It's ironic that we write her obituary as she was resilient and had more than nine lives. She may not have had the mental or physical capabilities that most of have, but she illuminated the lives of others with her kindness and spirit, and did have a mind of her own. She had a gift for making the world a little brighter for everyone. Linda participated in the Special Olympics-bowling.

She leaves to celebrate her essence; sisters Kathleen (Williams)Keene (Michael) and Judy Carpenter, 6 nieces and nephews, 14 great nieces and nephews, and 2 great great nieces.

A Celebration of Life will be in May at the O'Connell Family Funeral Home of Ellsworth. Visitation will be one hour prior at O'Connells. Memorials preferred to go to Special Olympics.Arrangements are entrusted to O'Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ellsworth. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-273-4421.