Beverly Jean Linde

Beverly Jean Linde, 84, died peacefully, comfortably, and lucidly in her sunroom on Saturday afternoon, Oct 26, 2024, following a week in home-hospice. Beverly’s family and loving friends showed up in full force for her bedside vigil, to honor her and say goodbye. Her funeral will be held Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 11:00 AM EST at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 6050 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208. A reception at the church will follow the service. For those who cannot attend, the service will be livestreamed; a link will be circulated to those who express interest. Her ashes will be scattered atop her mother’s grave in Harrisburg, PA, in Spring 2025. Family may be contacted via Becky Rafter at 1103 Dancing Fox Road, Atlanta, GA, 30032.

Born in Harrisburg, PA, to the late Rudolph Leonard and Jean Wise Linde, Bev retired after 24 years on the faculty of Indiana University School of Nursing. She worked weekends at Wishard Hospital from 1991-2007, and she was trauma certified in five areas, including Certified Emergency Nurse. In 1991, she designed a summer course placing students in the Wishard and Methodist Hospital trauma centers for clinical rotations, a popular elective. 

Beverly earned her PhD in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Ohio State University, and her Registered Nurse (RN) credentials at Polyclinic Hospital School of Nursing in Harrisburg, PA. From 1971 to 2007, to pay her tuition, she was either teaching (University of Michigan), nursing (Polyclinic, ICU at Cleveland Clinic, ICU in Columbus, University of Michigan Hospital, University of Michigan Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center, and Wishard Hospital), or both. She authored and co-authored several journal articles and had much success presenting her research at conferences around the country. Over her career, Dr. Beverly Linde affected thousands of patients’ lives and passed on her lifetime of knowledge and experience to thousands of adoring nursing students. She was an outstanding woman.

Beverly was a longtime member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Her favorite hobbies were making beautiful greeting cards, cooking, socializing, watching football (OSU, Mahomes, and the Mannings), playing games, and reading. When she was able, she also enjoyed music and theater, travelling, collecting dolls, and finding unique Santa figurines. In addition to her nieces and nephews, the loves of her life were always her pets. She was an excellent neighbor, devoted friend, and brilliant colleague; she was also the beloved matriarch of the Linde-McClure-Patton-Rafter family. Her death will be felt for generations.

Survivors include a multitude of wonderful friends; her cat Teddy; her brother James Linde (Linda), sister Michele “Mickie” Rafter (John), “sister-aunt” Joy McClure (Bob), and sister-in-law Mary Ellen Linde; and her cousins Greg Linde (Lisa), Heidi Gruman (Bill), Jeff Linde, Randy Patton (Linda), Sandy Patton, Meta Martin, Kitty Linde, and Rick Sudor. 

Her surviving nephews and nieces are Kris Linde, Bob McClure, Jr. (Liz), Julie Villanueva (Larry), Brian Rafter (Izumi), Becky Rafter (Jamie Roberts), Robyn Linde (Holly), Ryan Linde (Sarah), Reid Linde (Kelsea Lane), David Martin, Aja Ferretti (Neil Preston), Jeff Busse, Dawn Busse (Matt), Lindsey Deppa (Jake), Katie Robinson (Scott), Nick Linde, Cobi Linde, Caleb Linde, Chris Kiger (Tracy), Shawn Kiger, Michele Patton, and Greg Patton (Devon).

Her surviving grandnephews and grandnieces are Chris, Josh, Jack, Erin, Kate, Ryan, Sophie, Grace, Thomas, Lily, Elizabeth, Monica, Logan, Deven, Amariah, Theo, Avery, Bennett, Hattie, Christopher, Zachary, Nicholas, Blake, and Madison.

Beverly is preceded in death by her brother, Michael Linde; her cousins Patrick E. Martin, Janine “Susie” Sudor, and Jeff Patton; her nephews Patrick “Pappy” Martin, Jr. and Keith Linde; her niece Nikki Melsness; Doug Rafter; and many friends, ancestors, and pets whom she couldn’t wait to reunite with, naming them daily during her week in hospice. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Indiana; The American Heart Association; and Little Red Door Cancer Agency. The family is grateful for the excellent private hospice care she received from Dianna, Ms Virginia, Ms Pam, Susan, and Teasha; the nursing care team from Compassus Hospice; the staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital; the many doctors, nurses, techs, and staff over the decades who have provided Bev’s medical care; innumerable friends and neighbors who helped her over the years, including feeding the whole family while Bev was in hospice (and Ruthie for going above and beyond); St. Paul’s church for holding her funeral service, bringing her communion in recent years, and giving her Last Rites, especially Beth, Bev, and Barb; and the respectful treatment she’s receiving at Indiana Funeral Care, Allisonville Rd, who is overseeing arrangements.