Linda C. Montonati

HURLEY, Wis. — Linda C. Montonati passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, just one week after her husband, Peter J. Montonati.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, she attended Pius X High School. After high school, she studied computer science where she was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency. In 1966, the CIA was installing their first database computers and was recruiting for their new electronic records department. In 1968, she was trapped for several days inside her apartment during the DC riots after the assassination of Martin Luther King. Later that year, she married Edward John Wall III, a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. Together they had three children. They separated in 1980.

Her parents had retired and moved back to Hurley, so Linda and her children moved into a home right across the street from her parents. Her knowledge of computers helped her get a job at Gogebic Community College, where she maintained the mainframe computer. She eventually wound up running the college bookstore, where she remained for the rest of her career.

Shortly after moving to Hurley, she met a local automotive mechanic, Peter J. Montonati, and they married in 1988. Contented at home, they enjoyed life together, occasionally taking long weekends to Door County or the Copper Country.

Linda loved cooking and when her children or sister or other family would come to visit, most of them shared her passion. Her youngest son, Michael, was the only one in the family not interested in cooking (though he recently came around) and he would often comment that all they did on vacation was talk about what they were going to cook, what they had just cooked, or what they were eating now. Exceptions were made in canning season.

After her retirement, Linda delighted in all kinds of crafts, enjoying basket weaving, furniture refurnishing, woodcarving and knitting. She particularly enjoyed teaching her family anything they were interested in.

In 2003, Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. After treatment she was cancer-free for many years, but it returned in 2015 as stage 4, and she was on chemotherapy for the rest of her life. She was so strong.

Linda was proceeded in death by her parents, Felix and Carolyn Cavosie; as well as her husband, Peter Montonati.

She is survived by her siblings, Joseph Cavosie, Jim Cavosie and Melissa (Chris) Mattson; her children, Edward Wall, Colleen (Brian Scott) Dunahee and Michael (Lucianne Hill) Wall; her grandchildren, Meghan Schilla, Mikyla Mobely, Maurion Dunahee and Daquan Dunahee. She is also survived by her nieces, Lisa, Laura and Carla; and nephew, Aaron; as well as all their spouses and children.

At her request, there will be no services. Donations in Linda Montonati’s name can be sent to the Regional Hospice program.