Linda Wade Petrich

Our dearest Linda. It seems impossible that we are saying our long goodbye to one who loved so well and was taken from us too soon. Born as the first child to WWII Veterans, Grover and Grace Wade on October 29, 1947, she made the Wade’s house a home from the moment she arrived. She was their “Princess” and the life force of the family. As with millions of other children she became a charter member of the Baby Boom engulfed in the idyllic suburban living of Southern California, a place she called home for her entire life. Attending Catholic schools through graduation from Marymount HS in Palos Verdes instilled in her a faith in God and a devotion to the Catholic Church that guided her life and out of which she forged her career as a religion teacher at St. Joseph HS in Lakewood.

The fullness of Linda’s life really began when she met Stephen Petrich, a skinny kid at Fermin Lausen HS in neighboring San Pedro. It was a match made in heaven and a bond made ‘til death parted them with Steve’s passing in 2018. From carefree kids riding in her convertible down PCH, they grew into responsible parents when the first son, Matthew arrived in 1976. A tow-headed boy with a mind of his own, he was joined by their own Princess when their daughter Johanna was born in 1978. Still incomplete, the missing piece of their family was added with the arrival of their son Daniel in 1982. Then, the fun really started. Joyful Thanksgiving weekends in Lake Arrowhead, trips to the San Diego Zoo with her sister Barbara and endless days in the Happiest Place on Earth and the markings life as baptisms, first communions and confirmations sealed the family in Linda and Steve’s Rock of Faith.

When she was blessed with the arrival of her first grandchild, from Johanna, was there any choice for her name than, “Faith”? Faith soon found herself enveloped in the warm blanket of love that was the Petrich Family and grew in grace and wisdom into the woman, who brought her grandmother endless pride. They were like soul sisters, communicating in a language of their own. But still, Linda remarked, something was still missing. When Heather joined the family Linda thought that part was filled. Little did she know that fate was to bring her two more beautiful granddaughters, when Heather and Matt welcomed Eleanor and Sofia into their lives. Mickey didn’t know what awaited him! They took the Mouse House by storm legs running and strollers rolling through that Magic Kingdom with Linda right in the thick of it.

Linda’s life was an ordinary life, lived by an extraordinary person. Whatever she did, she did it with all her passion, her amazing intelligence and her zeal for life. Whether it was connecting with thousands of young women at St. Joseph’s or rooting for her beloved Dodgers and Fighting Irish or a good political argument with her brother, Steve, or as Patriarch of the family she so lovingly built, she brought it. Man, did she bring it!

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401