Obituary of Linda N. Caverly

One of the strongest and kindest Native American women we know made her final transition to meet The Great Spirit on the evening of October 20, 2016, in Albany NY, at the age of 51, after sustaining two falls requiring brain surgery and extensive rehab. Linda was born in O’Creek SD on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, which, to this day, remains one of the poorest reservations in the U.S. When Linda Lou Night Pipe arrived at the Caverly family household on St. Patrick’s Day in 1978 in Fanwood NJ, she had just turned 13; it was the 13th home in which she lived. At the age of three, she became legally blind when a car in which she was riding (driven by a drunk teen) hit a tree and sent her through the windshield. Subsequently, Linda attended elementary school at the Aberdeen School for the Blind in Aberdeen SD, and graduated from high school at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown MA in 1983. Linda’s life was never easy as she dealt with her blindness, PTSD from childhood abuse, several mental health diagnoses, and ultimately several complications from the disease of alcoholism. The last few years of her life were spent in Amsterdam NY where she received outstanding services from several social service agencies and the Mohawk Terrace Senior and Disability Apartment complex. In spite of, or maybe because of, all the challenges she faced, Linda was a survivor and a kind, caring soul.The highlight of her life was attending the wedding of her beautiful daughter, Melissa, on August 6th this summer. Linda will be remembered for her endearing smile, her sense of humor, her love of cats, her indomitable spirit, and most of all, her kind heart. Linda is survived by her daughter Melissa Bredice McGowan and her husband Bill McGowan of Charlotte NC, her adoptive parents Jim and Jeanne Caverly of Ballston Lake NY, her two brothers Patrick Caverly of Ballston Lake NY and Brian Caverly of Ridgewood NY, and nephew Zeke Caverly of Burnt Hills NY. A private family memorial service will be held. The family is grateful for the compassionate care and services provided by Hudson Park Nursing Home and Catricala Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to St Joseph Indian School, 1301 N. Main St., Chamberlain SD 57325, serving Lakota Sioux children and families since 1927.