Aug. 15, 1927 — Sept. 11, 2018
Celia Linder, at age 89, widowed and after a cancer diagnosis, took her entire family on a Caribbean cruise.
The adventure allowed her to enjoy family and travel, two highly valued parts of life for the former travel agent who was a mother of four and grandmother of five. On the cruise, despite limited suitcase space, Mrs. Linder dressed impeccably, coordinating her jewelry and clothing.
In fact, she filled her time with friends, family and activities up until about a month ago, when her health began to decline, said Peter Linder, one of her two sons.
Mrs. Linder died Sept. 11, at home with care from Hospice Buffalo. She was 91.
She was born Aug. 15, 1927, in Buffalo, the daughter of David and Edith Reback Shatkin and the older sister of Samuel and Paul Shatkin. Her father owned and operated a produce market on Route 5 next to Bethlehem Steel.
"It was a typical immigrant family, where the welfare and specifically the education of the children was paramount," said Peter Linder.
She graduated from Buffalo Public School 56 and Lafayette High School in 1945, then earned a bachelor's degree in fashion design and merchandising from the University of Indiana at Bloomington in 1949.
Mrs. Linder returned to Buffalo and worked as a women's clothing buyer for Berger's department store from 1949 to 1953. Her fashion sense extended to the end of her life. "She loved nice clothing and jewelry and wore it happily and well," said her son.
She and Edward Linder were introduced by mutual friends. They were married at Temple Beth Zion on Feb. 22, 1953, with a reception in the Statler Golden Ballroom.
Mr. Linder and a partner started United Alloys & Steel in 1946 with a truck from which they scoured the city for scrap metal; it grew through the years and employed more than 75 people before Mr. Linder retired and the family sold the business in 2002.
The Linders traveled the world, including Africa, India, China, the Galapagos Islands and New Zealand. She worked as a travel agent for Pieper Travel from 1975 to 1992, organizing "very customized, boutique trips to Europe, Asia or Africa for couples or small groups," said Peter Linder.
The trips she arranged for her clients "were largely based on not only her research but her personal experience in having traveled extensively with my father," said Peter Linder. "She would recommend places to go and things to do, but also where to stay and even what rooms to book, and specific restaurants. She just loved that level of detail."
Mrs. Linder enjoyed tennis, skiing and golf, and in later years, weekly games of bridge and croquet. Passionate about growing and arranging flowers, she was an artist who enjoyed painting and decoupage, and was a talented interior designer.
From 1985 to 2012, the Linders lived in Naples, Fla., during the winter, but no matter where she was, Mrs. Linder always promoted Buffalo, her family said.
Mrs. Linder served on the Auxiliary Board of the Buffalo Zoo, of which Mr. Linder was president from 1982 to 1987. She also was a Member's Gallery board member at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and on the Women's Board of the Burchfield-Penney Art Museum and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. She was co-chair of the Maria M. Love Convalescent Fund Charity Ball supporting the Buffalo Philharmonic.
She belonged to the Buffalo Club; the Buffalo Tennis and Squash Club and Garret Club; Westwood Country Club in Amherst; and the Audubon Golf Club and Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Fla.
Her husband died on Feb. 14, 2011.
Besides her son Peter, Mrs. Linder is survived by her children Elizabeth Linder, Rabbi John Linder and Catherine Linder Spencer; five grandchildren and many other relatives.
Mrs. Linder was a lifelong member of Temple Beth Zion, 850 Delaware Ave., where services will begin at 11 a.m. Sept. 14.