Obituary of Linda Pearl Pudalov

Linda Pearl Pudalov was born on March 15, 1951 to Frances and Scott Hooker. Frances was a homemaker and volunteer whose family had lived in Colorado for generations. Scott worked as a long-haul truck driver and was often away for days at a time. The family lived in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver, and Linda followed in her older sister, Karen’s, footsteps, attending East High School and eventually Stanford University. Linda had eclectic interests even in high school, where she was attracted to literature, poetry, mathematics, and music. She played both piano and guitar and enjoyed organizations at East such as White Jackets, which supported the school and its sports teams.

At Stanford, Linda first settled on mathematics but also gained fluency in French during a semester abroad.  Soon after her return from Europe, she suffered a severe motorcycle injury requiring surgery and a great deal of both physical and occupational therapy.  From this formative event, Linda became enamored of the impact these therapists had on her.  It was time, she thought, to stop dealing with numbers and to begin helping people. Transferring back home to Colorado, she enrolled at Colorado State University and graduated with a degree and certification in Occupational Therapy. There, she met her future husband, Mitch, another CSU student.

Linda accompanied Mitch went he went on to study Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois. Eventually, the couple was married on December 21, 1974. Linda was the financial support of the family, working as an Occupational Therapist for head injury rehabilitation.  Following Mitch’s graduation from Vet school in 1980, the couple moved to Long Island, where Mitch joined his father in Veterinary practice. Linda was able to stay home long enough to bear her son Eric in 1981 and her daughter Emily in 1984. Eventually she began delivering occupational therapy for patients in their homes.

Linda loved being able to devote herself to her family’s well-being. The couple decided to raise their family in Mitch’s Jewish tradition, so Linda learned to keep a Jewish home. Eventually, as her children became teenagers, Linda decided to formalize her relationship with Judaism as a convert. She was active in the Temple, where Linda was a Sisterhood volunteer, assistant treasurer and Board member. The couple created a home in which the precepts of Judaism were complemented by the teachings of Prem Rawat, helping them to find inner peace from within themselves. She and Mitch loved boating and spent many hours with friends plying the waters of Long Island’s South Shore.

After 10 years in Long Island, Mitch’s father retired and Mitch became the senior member of the practice. In 2016 Mitch sold the practice, finally, and the family could finally return to the magic of Colorado! Trading boating for RV-ing, they explored the highways, byways, and national parks of the West. Linda was an early environmentalist, was the bookkeeper for the family business, and spent endless hours volunteering and caring for her family, particularly after her son, Eric’s extensive surgery. She remained open to any treatments that might possibly help him.  

 In 2023 Linda was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and fought this valiantly; she finally succumbed peacefully on October 21. She is survived by her husband Mitch, daughter Emily, son and daughter-in-law Eric and Marcy, her sister and brother-in law Karen and Dan Michalak.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF.org),  the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org) or the charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at the Feldman Mortuary Chapel on November 12, 2024 starting at 10am.