Linda Saunders Kolterjahn

Linda Saunders Kolterjahn, 72, of Newburyport was born on May 14, 1953 in Beverly, MA.

She was the daughter of the late Donald Saunders of Danvers and the late Jeanne Garry Saunders Hall.

Linda is survived by her loving husband Thomas Kolterjahn of Newburyport, MA, her daughter Sonya White of Merrimac, MA, her granddaughter Hayleigh White and her partner John Perkins of New Boston, NH, her great-granddaughter Savannah Perkins and siblings Jaelynn and Jaxtin Perkins of New Boston, NH, her niece Emily (Saunders) Lauer and husband Eric and her great-niece, Maya Lauer, her nephew Erik Saunders and wife Alyssa. Her brother Richard Saunders predeceased her. She is survived by her brother and sisters-in-law Paul and Brooke (Teel) Kolterjahn and family, Richard and Susan (Kolterjahn) Morris and family, Melvin and Christine (Kolterjahn) George and family. Numerous nephews, nieces and cousins survive her.

Linda was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother (Miemie), great-grandmother, sister, aunt, neighbor and friend to those who knew her. Linda was married to her husband Tom for 42 years, and together they formed a very fulfilling life together in Newburyport. Linda had many passions, including tending to her garden in Newburyport where she loved cultivating her plants and flowers. With a smile that could light up a room, she adored spending time with children, and babies and had a love for animals. She was both gentle and strong, and a source of nurturing to many of the people around her. Linda had a wry wit and Yankee sensibility to add to any conversation. She was an avid home chef, and her cooking was something to look forward to whether it was for a family holiday, a neighborhood event or a sailing club potluck. She enjoyed sailing with her husband Tom on their Flying Scot in their sailing club at the Sandy Bay Yacht Club in Rockport.

She was an active supporter of the Newburyport Preservation Trust. Linda is remembered as host of many Trust meetings and events. She dearly loved Newburyport and strongly supported its preservation. She was Tom’s partner in restoring their historic house, and in patiently allowing her basement and attic to become storage for historic building materials salvaged by Tom from around Newburyport. If you visited Newburyport’s restored Powder House, you were greeted enthusiastically by Linda in historic dress. Her neighborhood was a special place for Linda with its warm and caring friends and neighbors. Linda and Tom were blessed with a strong source of neighborhood support during her extended illness.

She loved to travel the world with Tom, and made numerous trips to Europe, particularly Germany and Italy. She dearly loved the many cousins and friends in Germany, Sweden, and Scotland whom they discovered through family history research and visits. Linda warmly embraced the many cousins uncovered here in the United States.

In her professional life, Linda worked as a sales associate at Tri-City Sales for over 20 years, retiring in 2014. She specialized in high-end appliances and consistently demonstrated her in-depth knowledge in this complex field.

Linda had a deep love for her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday October 11 at 12:00 noon to celebrate Linda and the special place she holds in the hearts of those who knew her at the First Religious Society Unitarian Church, 26 Pleasant Street, Newburyport. A reception will follow. All who knew Linda and would like to join in this celebration of her life are welcome.