Linda Anne Casarez
January 11, 1951-September 23, 2021
Linda Anne Casarez passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 23, 2021, after a prolonged battle with an autoimmune disease. She was born on January 11, 1951 in Salinas, California to parents Joe and Olga Casarez. She was raised in Fresno, California, but was a resident of Madera California for much of her adult life. Linda was a graduate of Fresno High School and CSU, Fresno. Linda worked for the State of California for almost forty years first, as a counselor with the California Diagnostic School for Neurologically Handicapped Children and then later at the California Department of Rehabilitation. Linda devoted herself to helping and serving others, especially children with disabilities. In addition to her work with children, Linda fundraised and volunteered for the California Democratic Party. After retirement, Linda volunteered for many years at the Hinds Hospice Thrift Store in Madera, CA.
Linda loved to travel and meet new people. She traveled extensively with the love of her life and her longtime companion, Anthony Giraldes, who preceded Linda in death. Linda was preceded in death by her father, Joe L. Casarez.
She is survived by her mother, Bertha Olga Casarez of Fresno California; sister Diana Garduque and her husband Joseph Garduque of Fresno, CA; sister Esther Nitschke and her husband Steven Nitschke of Madera, CA, and her brother Joe Casarez and his wife Jennifer Casarez of Clovis, CA. Linda is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, Adela Rabson, Paul Garduque, and Julia Garduque of Fresno, CA; Frances Nitschke-Hair and her husband Jared of Plano, TX; Joe Nitschke and his wife Alexandra of Fresno; Anna Nitschke-Ibarra and her husband Daniel of Madera, CA; Trinity and Joey Casarez of Clovis, CA; and her great niece Amelia Nitschke of Madera, CA.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 from 4 PM to 7 PM at Jay Chapel in Madera with a Rosary recited at 7:00 PM, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Thursday, October 7, 2021 at the Shrine of St. Therese in Fresno, CA. Entombment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Children’s Hospital of Central California, Nancy Hinds Hospice and the Joe L. Casarez Memorial Scholarship Fund at Duncan Polytechnical High School (Fresno Unified School District).