Linda Johnson, 64, of Cazenovia, New York, passed away at home on April 1, 2026. She was born in Centreville, Illinois on March 6, 1962, the daughter of Richard and Sheila Smith. She lived in Cazenovia for the last 30 years, having previously lived in New Hampshire.

       Linda had a long and successful career as a manufacturing and project manager at Lockheed Martin, Philips, and Saab Sensis, before stopping work in 2012 due to her progressing disability. She was probably known by some in Cazenovia as “that lady in a wheelchair” or “the lady with the cool recumbent trike.” To her friends and family, however, she was not defined by her disability at all. She was the life of the party! Always extremely creative, happy, and fun. If she was involved in something, it was going to be fun and you were going to participate! She was truly a blast to be around. She and her family loved to entertain, travel, cook, garden, craft, and continually renovate and maintain their old farmhouse. Although her ability to entertain and host dinner parties slowed down in later years, she continued traveling whenever she could. And did I mention food? If she wasn’t cooking or eating, she was talking about food, planning meals, flipping through recipes, drooling over restaurant menus, watching cooking shows, or anything else related to food. If her lips were moving, she was either eating food or talking about it. Amazingly, she somehow maintained her figure.

       After her 25-year battle with the progression of Friedreich’s Ataxia, it wasn’t the disease that got her - instead it was a surprising and brief battle with ovarian cancer that did it. But she’s ready for this next phase, whatever it may be, where there won’t be suffering or any need for a mobility device. She’ll be dancing the night away, not a wheelchair in sight. And eating delicious meals without worrying about the calories!

       Linda is survived by her husband of 32 years, Andy Johnson; their children, Brian Johnson and Kelly Johnson; her parents, Dick and Sheila Smith; and her sister Cheryl Post.

       There are no calling hours. Linda is now making her final and most significant donation to help find a cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia. Contributions in Linda’s memory may be made to Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance at www.curefa.org. Condolences for Linda’s family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.