Linda Bjorkman Maggio

Linda Bjorkman Maggio passed away in Venice, Florida on September 16, 2026 of natural causes in the comfort of her own home. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania on December 22, 1939, she grew up in Granite City, Illinois. She graduated from Granite City High School and became a student at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. She was transferred as a national officer for the sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma in her sophomore year to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, to build up a failing Chapter, and she met the challenge. She graduated from Florida Southern with a degree in Business Administration. It was there she met her husband, Glenn. Her college days showed the same passion she brought to Westfield. A Westfield resident since 1962, she became quite involved in the Westfield community and has been synonymous with service since her arrival. She presided as PTO president for Tamaques School and Edison Intermediate School. She served on the YMCA Board of Directors, was a Y-teen advisor, received the Service to Youth award from the YMCA, served on the Mayor’s Committee on Drug Abuse, was founder and President of the Westfield Teen Canteen, on Chairman of the Mayor’s Youth Guidance Council just to name of few of her tireless involvement and unselfish devotion to service to Westfield.

For 40 years she successfully led the Westfield United Fund in its many efforts. She joined the organization’s Board of Trustees in 1970 prior to being named Executive Director in 1975. She was the driving force behind the continuing success of the Westfield United Fund. Her most compelling role was her compassionate dedication to the victims of 9/11 serving for years to provide emotional and financial support. The Westfield United Fund became known Statewide and helping anyone needing assistance. She truly demonstrated her love and care for those in need. She served as President of the Westfield Historical Society, President of the Westfield Rotary Club being the first woman invited to membership in 1987., member of the Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Board, Westfield Service League and College Woman’s Club. She was Chairman of the 1994 Westfield Bicentennial effort with a series of yearlong activities and events. She served on the Advisory Board of Overlook Hospital, the Junior League and the town bank. She has been the recipient of myriad of honors for her humanitarian efforts from such organizations as Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, UNICO, the YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scout, Community Access and the Westfield Symphony. She was a member of the Westfield Presbyterian Church and Echo Lake Country Club. She retired to Venice in 2014 and was a member of the Plantation Golf & Country Club (although she always said she could never be a golfer because she was too short and she knew she would cheat.)

Linda believed in the words of Erma Bombeck, “when I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, I used everything you gave me.” And in the words of George Bernard Shaw: “She was of the opinion that her life belonged to the whole community and as she lived it was her privilege to do whatever she could. She wanted to be thoroughly used up when she passed away, for the harder she worked the more she loved. She rejoiced in life for its own sake. Life was no brief candle for her; it was sort of splendid torch which she got hold of for the moment and she wanted to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it down to future generations. While her journey on earth has come to an end, her proud legacies will long live on and the memory of all she stood for will endure. Linda will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She will never be forgotten and will always serve as an inspiration for all of us.”

Linda is survived by her daughter, Stacey; her brother, Brett Bjorkman; her nephews and niece, Brett, Brian and Brooke Bjorkman. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Glenn.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM at Farley Funeral Home located at 265 Nokomis Avenue S. in Venice.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Linda’s name to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, New York, NY 10306 or online at www.T2T.org. To send a condolence or memory please visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com.