Linda Kozero

linda  kozero
Linda Ann (Barbera) Kozero, beloved wife of Robert Kozero and mother of Alexandra and Zachary Kozero, passed away on June 8th 2021. Linda was born to Nicholas Barbera and Rose (Panzo) Barbera on Nov 1, 1952 in Buffalo, NY. Along with her parents and sister Joyce (Wayne) Hellmann, Linda lived in Kenmore, NY for much of her early life. After the passing of her mother, Nicholas married Beatrice and added brother Stuart Isaac and sister Jan (late Rob) Freeman to the mix.

After her undergraduate degree, Linda attained her Masters in Psychology from SUNY Buffalo. In western NY, Linda worked at various social support agencies including People Inc. and The Cantalician Center, a sheltered workshop in Buffalo which helps provide jobs for developmentally disabled and head injured clients.

When Linda married Bob, they settled in Northern VA with the desire to start a family. Their journey eventually led them to Russia where they completed their family and brought Allie and Zack home. Family was very important to Linda. She also leaves behind nephews Michael (Mary), Christopher (Carie), Frank James (Jody), Jake (Abbie) and nieces Marnie (Andy), Mandy (Dan), Marla (Ned), Tierney, Sylvie, Erika, Natalie, Cara (Sundeep), Ellen (Mike) and Cynthia (Brian), as well as her treasured Aunt Rosella (late Peter), many cousins, and great nieces and nephews.

Following her rehab counseling career, Linda taught as a substitute in Fairfax County schools and volunteered at The Shepherd Center, providing supportive services to area seniors.

If you knew Linda Kozero, you probably remember laughing about something with her. And you most likely were happy to be hanging out with her. Linda always made her friends and acquaintances feel comfortable no matter what was going on. Her Buffalo family has many stories they enjoy sharing that point to Linda’s humor and caring for others without wanting to be in the spotlight. However, she usually stole the show because of her humor, enthusiasm and positive approach to everything.

In describing Linda’s professional demeanor and influence, a friend once said about Linda’s work with people with disabilities: “I saw her with her ‘clients’ a few times and she treated them like she would anyone else. It was her influence that prompted me to go back for a second Masters in Special Ed. I was initially sort of nervous around handicapped individuals, but she invited me to come over to her group home and meet her peeps. She was such a natural, so authentic.”

Linda directed the same love, enthusiasm and humor she had used in professional life to make a wonderful home in Fairfax County. Linda brought her “Hockey Mom” approach to everything she did with Allie and Zack, in a good way – love, and enthusiasm for her kids, other kids and all the friends she made helping out.

Finally there are Linda’s friends. There are many. Included in those friends, is a geographically separated core group of ladies she has known forever who would regularly get together in different cities to enjoy the sites. Afterwards, the site seeing was not what they would remember about the trips, it was the belly laughs shared by the group, with Linda at the center of the fun.

Linda once said: “I like people and people seem to like me.” Her legacy of great friends, community work, family involvement includes so much more. Linda impacted so many lives with her humor, kindness and compassion. We will carry her love and zest for life in our hearts always.

A Celebration of Linda's Life will be held Saturday, July 10, 2021, 11:00 am with a luncheon immediately following, at the Buffalo Marriott Harborcenter; 95 Main Street; Buffalo, NY 14203.

Parking ($5) is available at the hotel:

Rooms at a group rate are available for Friday, July 9th and Saturday, July 10th Link to reservations: here

Please note, the reservation link will only work for the dates of Friday 7/9 & Saturday 7/10. To book outside those dates or if experiencing problems with the link, contact the Event Coordinator, Sara, directly at 716-768-7367 or swasilewski@shanercorp.com for assistance. Last day to book is June 25th.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made where Linda volunteered at the Shepherd's Center ( https://www.scnova.org). To insure that others receive the care Linda did, donations may also be made to the Adler Center ( https://www.capitalcaring.org/get-help/our-locations/advanced-illness-management-aldie-virginia)

View current weather.

Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. Bob, I’m very sorry to hear about Linda’s passing. I didn’t know her, but she seemed like such a lovely soul. My sincere condolences to you and your family. Vince Hilaire

  2. Linda & I went to graduate school and then worked together years ago and shared a lot of fun and happy times together at work and outside of work as well! We smile if not out right laugh at some of the memories & will always remember the quirky, somewhat zany, and caring person Linda was & will remain as in our hearts. We were so sorry to hear of her passing and we send deepest condolences to Bob and family. Sincerely, Marian & Michael Nasca

  3. Laughing and sharing memories made our dinner together so special. I’ll always remember how Linda jumped out of your car when she saw us at the train station and gave us a huge hug. That memory will forever stay in my heart. All our love to Bob, Allie and Zack, Diane and Rich Reksc

  4. I would like to send my sincere condolences to Linda’s family and friends. She was a very special cousin to my Mom Lorraine Barbera Paolone. I remember her telling me stories about them as children and remember a special photo of Linda, my Mom, my Aunt Joan and Cousin Carol. I see all of them in Linda’s beautiful eyes and smile. The slideshow was beautiful, such a lovely tribute to her life. You can tell from the photos how much love she had in her heart for and from her family. May she Rest In Peace, she is in my thoughts and prayers. Sincerely, Melanie Paolone Thompson

  5. To Bob, Joyce, Jan and all of your beautiful families. Our deepest sympathy go out to all of you. Linda was a special sweet cousin that I have lovely memories of growing up as a child and a teenager. God bless all of you and cherish the beautiful memories you all have of her. She will forever be in all of our hearts..may she rest in peace .Lorraine Barbera Paolone and Tom

  6. My deepest sympathies to Linda’s family. I’ve known Linda since we were about 18 or so . Whenever we all got together we always had so much fun and laughed alot and Linda was usually the one making us laugh. I know she will be missed so much by all!! RIP my friend till we meet again ???

  7. Bob, I am so sorry to hear about the death of Linda. My wife and I offer you and your family our deepest sympathy and pray you will find the strength you need to continue on. Regards, Chris Kubik

  8. Bob & family of Linda, thanks for sharing the service with us. It was precious, it is my understanding that, ‘precious’ means carefully watched over, from her backpacking across Europe until finding the love she longed for with you & your children she was watched over & she watched over us. I will always remember her!

  9. I was one of Linda’s close childhood friends. I have so many fond memories of her growing up. I went through the loss of her mother with her, and her family’s life afterwards as they recovered from their loss. She loved to joke and laugh, and we definitely made mischief together-all in good fun. I still have a green shamrock silver charm that she bought me for my birthday one year. She initially told me she paid $3.00 for it, but she later told me she paid $5, then $10, then $25, and then up and up from there. We had some good laughs about it. As life went on, we went our separate ways, but she has always held a place in my heart and always will. I am truly heartbroken about her passing. I am happy to hear that she went on to live a great life with a beautiful family. May her memory be a blessing and my she Rest In Peace. Cindy (Evans) Ehrlich

  10. Linda and I were good friends in high school. I’m so very to hear of her passing. Although, sadly, we lost touch over the years, I thought of her often. Prayer’s to Linda’s family and friends. Rest in Peace, Linda.


Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle

Accessibility Tools
hide