Linda M. (Diaz) Rice

Linda M. Rice (Diaz), age 79, of Walton, NY, died peacefully on November 11, 2021. Linda grew up in Rochelle Park, NJ and raised a family in Wyckoff, NJ. She is survived by her four children, Donna Macaluso and her husband, Jim, Shaun Rice, and his wife, Ann, Darren Rice, and his wife, Paula, and Tara Rice. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Justin Macaluso, William Rice, Owen Rice, and Gabrielle Rice, and her brother, Robert Diaz. She was predeceased by her parents, Laurie and Bob Diaz, brother, Bruce Diaz, and her beloved grandson, Dylan Macaluso. They will receive friends on Monday, November 15, 2021, 4:30-6:30 PM, at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. https://www.vpfh.com/

Linda returned to college after raising her family and worked as a medical assistant. She also volunteered to rehabilitate injured wildlife and could often be found nursing a baby bird or raccoon. Eventually, her love of nature and wildlife drew her up to New York State, where she worked part time on a dairy farm and llama farm. She even ended up bringing a few llamas and alpacas home as pets. Linda was a very strong woman and hard worker. She enjoyed gardening, gathering eggs from her chickens, and feeding her precious birds and squirrels. Also, Linda was artistic and loved to paint. She especially enjoyed painting animals and endless Christmas ornaments for her children and grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Linda’s favorite charities were:

St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/

The ASPCA  https://www.aspca.org/

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