Obituary of Linda L. Chesner
Linda Lou Berry Chesner 1946-2026
Linda Lou Berry Chesner, 79, of Trumbull, CT died at home on March 16, 2026. Linda was born in Union, NJ in 1946 to Luther and Gertrude Berry, the 3rd of three sisters. She was the baby of the family, loved her sisters Lois and Judy and learned a lot from them. She was a joy to her father, an avid sportsman, by playing many sports as an equal with the boys in her neighborhood. She was a joy to her mother, a choir director, by singing in many of the choirs she led. She had a happy childhood and showed her special talents and heart in many ways whether as a member of the local harmonica band, caring for an abused friend or health-stricken pastor, or teaching her deaf friend to say "mother". She gave her heart to Jesus Christ at a neighborhood Bible club. Linda attended Douglass College where she earned a degree in sociology and met the love of her life Thomas Chesner at a mixer with Rutgers University. They married on May 29, 1971.
Linda was a pioneer in the field of computers, learning to program COBOL at The Prudential before being recruited by Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) at a time when computers filled whole rooms and programs were racks of punch cards. She left CSC when her first child (Mark) was born July 1974 and lived as a stay-at-home mom thru the birth of her second child (Matt) in November 1977.
Her life changed forever with the diagnosis of her husband Tom with a brain tumor in 1984. She stood faithfully by his side as he was treated for several recurrences of the cancer until he passed away in November 1993.
Linda returned to the workforce at a local dry cleaner. She later became a librarian and computer aide in the Trumbull School system. She worked at Christian Heritage School as assistant to the treasurer. She ended her working years during the 2008 financial crisis.
Linda served the Lord in many ways at local churches. She sang in choirs, served as a deaconess, acted as a mentor to young women, was part of women's ministry, and played in handbell choirs. She was a member of many churches over the years including Ashland Church in Voorhees, NJ, Calvary Church in Trumbull, CT, Trinity Baptist in Fairfield, CT, and Beacon Hill Church in Monroe, CT.
Linda's remains will be cremated by Abriola Parkview Funeral Home as was her wish. There will be a memorial service at Beacon Hill Church in Monroe, CT at a date and time to be announced.
The family requests donations to The Gideons (https://gideons.org/donate) in lieu of flowers.