Linda Spillane Steinmetz

Linda Spillane Steinmetz was a wonderful wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend. Linda passed away suddenly on Monday, May 12, in Raleigh, NC, with her daughter by her side.

Linda was born in New York City in the summer of 1947 to Maurice John Spillane and Laura Elizabeth Spillane (nee Carmody). She grew up in New York City and Long Island, surrounded by a loving, eclectic extended Irish-American family. (Despite spending decades in the Carolinas, Linda never lost her NY accent.)

In the early 1970s Linda married Bill Steinmetz. They spent 43 happy years together, until his death in 2016. Linda and Bill eventually chose to move to the South where they and their daughter Alixe restored a home in Abbeville, SC, which they then operated as The Painted Lady Bed & Breakfast. In Abbeville and Greenwood, Linda and Bill were thrilled to provide the quintessential small town upbringing for their daughter, who biked to the library and climbed the two story magnolia tree out front.

In 2017, Linda moved to Raleigh to be closer to Alixe and her family. Recently, Linda's proudest and most fulfilled moments were the times she spent with her grandson, especially hosting ‘date nights’ every Friday, where the two of them laughed, told stories, watched too much TV, ate quite well, and truly enjoyed each other’s company.

Linda loved talking to people and regaling them with stories, and she was a good listener, too. As a secretary at Abbeville High School (SC), she became a confidante of students, parents, and coworkers, alike. In anything, she was also the best possible advocate to have on your side. She had a wonderfully wry sense of humor and a quick wit, much of which might have passed along to her cherished grandson during their date nights.

Linda is survived by her daughter, Alixe, Alixe’s husband, Andrew Gonce, and their son, Linda's beloved grandson.

Linda loved animals over her long life, caring for a several dogs (including a mastiff and a handful of Old English Sheepdogs), a number of cats, a raccoon named Rick-Rack, a squirrel named Wagner, and several turtles. Linda is also survived by Daylily, her pet turtle of nearly 40 years, and her Old English Sheepdog and companion extraordinaire, Kirby. In lieu of flowers, she would be thrilled if her memory helped support the ASPCA (aspca.org). If you’d like to reach out to Linda’s family directly, her daughter can be reached at steinmetz.alixe@gmail.com.