Obituary of Linda Sciandra

Linda L. Sciandra Allegany, NY Linda L. Sciandra of 3436 Buffalo Rd. passed away Thursday (September 19, 2013) at her home after a lengthy illness, under the loving care of her family. Born April 30, 1948 in Olean she was the daughter of Walter and Jean Chapus Kwiatkowski. On August 12, 1972 in Olean she married Russell J. Sciandra, Jr. who survives. Mrs. Sciandra was a 1966 graduate of Olean High School and later received a BS in Art Education at SUNY Buffalo in 1970. She had been employed by the Salamanca City Central School District as an art teacher for thirty two years prior to her retirement. Her love of art was large in scope, including painting, drawing, sculpturing, making furniture and weaving. She also did commissioned art work and has pieces on display throughout the United States, Canada and Pakistan. Teaching children was her passion. They also were subject matter for her artwork and her flower gardens were her outdoor art. She was a past president of the Salamanca Teachers Association and also was a member of the Allegany-Limestone Central School Board from 1987 to 2003. She served as President of the board for many of those years and presided over the merger of Allegany and Limestone Schools and the construction of the new middle/high school complex. She was a member of St. John's Church in Olean and the Cattaraugus County Arts Council. She was an avid skier for over 50 years and was often in the "bumps", putting the men to shame. Surviving besides her husband are her father of Olean; two children Margo (Nick) Ferraro of Penfield and Ryan (Addie Marino) Sciandra of Brooklyn; two grandchildren Adriana Belle Ferraro and Nolan Alexander Ferraro; one brother Gregory Kwiatkowski of Olean and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother on September 4, 2004. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Sunday from 5-8pm. Funeral services will be held Monday (September 23, 2013) beginning with a prayer service at 11:00am in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30am in St. John's Church. Rev. Edward Sheedy, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza Suite 1710, New York, NY 10122 (www.ocrf.org) or to Teal Ribbon Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 83015, Gaithersburg, MD 20883 (www.trocrf.org). Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.