Linda Jean Cadenhead Giggleman Long

Memorial Service 1:00 p.m. Saturday July 23, 2016 at the Wilshire Baptist Church 4316 Abrams Road Dallas, Texas 75214. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to UT Southwestern Medical Center, P.O. Box 910888 Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or online at www.utsouthwestern.edu/donatenow to support "The Men's Cancer Support Group in The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center." Please make checks payable to UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dear Friends: This is the group that for nine years has been my source of unquestioned support and strength. The men in this group have been a sounding board, provided safe place for me to fall apart, and when I did the guys would duct tape, spackle, paint, safety pin, whatever it took to put me back together again. When I could not go to group in the spring of 2016 because of having to teach a night class they brought group to me at a place, day and time of my choosing. If you know another man who is the caregiver and support source for his wife or partner, this group is a source of support that he should avail himself of. Thank you to all who cared for and supported me and Linda all of these years. Ralph

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And, in time, play many parts (Shakespeare).

Dr. Linda Jean Cadenhead Giggleman Long made her entrance on life’s stage January 26, 19## (she made it clear that if anyone ever publicly disclosed her age, she would haunt the transgressor for life. She proclaimed herself to be 26 on the 26th and stuck by it.)

Linda took her exit on July 13, 2016. During her life, she indeed played many parts: daughter, sister, spouse, mother, grandmother, grandma, GiGi, aunt, friend, survivor, professor, mentor, critic, fact checker, truth teller, fierce competitor, and bling queen. Linda portrayed each of these parts with grace, charm, humor, kindness, bluntness, and aplomb.

Linda is the daughter of Clarence and Tommy Cadenhead, the sister of C. T. Cadenhead, Jr. and his wife Marie, and for the past 35 years the spouse of Ralph L. Long. Linda is the mother of and the mother to Dr. Gene F. Giggleman, Jr. and wife Kathy, Karen Kay Giggleman (deceased), Craig Martin Giggleman and wife Marina (deceased), and Gene Michael “Scooter” Long.Gene Jr., Karen and Craig are the children of Gene F. Giggleman Sr.) Linda is grandmother to Kristin Giggleman Burns and husband Heath, Lauren Giggleman Dethlefs and husband Ben, and Grandma to Erik Martin Giggleman (the only person who could call her that and get away with it). Linda unabashedly proclaimed that the favorite part she played was that of GiGi--great grandmother to Avery Lane Burns, Sadie Aaron Burns, Ethan Troy Dethlefs, and Allison Anne Dethlefs. Linda, having only one brother, often said, “I always wished that I had more brothers and sisters.” When she married into the Long family, her sibling count increased by seven. Between the Cadenhead family and the Long family, Linda was an aunt to a plethora of nieces and nephews. Linda had numerous friends who transcended to become family. She let them, and the world know how much she was blessed by these friendships. In turn, one of the ways in which she blessed others was with her contagious, undaunted will to live life in spite of cancer, cancer that interrupted Linda’s life for 32 years. Of those years, she lived the last nine with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. This statistically improbable feat was accomplished with the unwavering care and support of Dr. Dawn Klemow. In the end, Linda did not lose her battle with cancer; she won her race with life.

During Linda’s career as a college professor with the DCCCD, Linda was a mentor to colleagues and students alike. She provided encouragement and criticism, as needed, to help individuals discover and then develop their potential. Linda was named outstanding professor at Northlake College three times during her teaching career. She was also named Community College Educator of the Year by TSCA, the state professional organization for educators in the field of speech communication.

Linda inherited her Aunt Ona’s penchant for factual precision and truth telling. So, if anyone took poetic license or fudged some facts, she didn’t hesitate to call that person on it. When playing games of any sort, she was a take-no-prisoners game player, whether she was playing Spades, 42, or Go Fish. If her partner were lackadaisical about the game, she didn’t hesitate questioning his or her playing prowess.

Linda’s fashion sense had a unique flair and style that many admired but could not achieve. If it were colorful, embellished, encrusted, ornate, and off-beat, she would don it and own it. The woman could rock a hat as few others could. With that in mind, it is requested that family and friends who attend her memorial wear bright, festive colors. Ladies put on your bling and a fabulous hat if you own one, for now is the time to wear it in Linda’s honor. Linda believed we all should leave our lives in the style that marked the way we lived our lives.

In the end, Linda will be remembered as a woman who deeply loved her life, loved her friends, and loved her family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to UT Southwestern Medical Center, P. O. Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75391-0888, or online at www.utsouthwestern.edu/donatenowto support The Men’s Cancer Support Group in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Linda’s memorial will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams Rd , Dallas, TX 75214.