Linda Eckart Sabo, a lifelong resident of Westhampton Beach, died on Monday, October 8, at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton. She was 60.
As a young adult, Ms. Sabo worked many years at the Roanoke Nursery Daycare in Riverhead, among many other endeavors, but she worked primarily as a cook and waitress at Eckart’s Luncheonette with her Aunt Shirley and Uncle Red and her cousins.
Later in life, she lived with and cared for her mother, Marie Eckart, while also raising her sons, Matthew Eckart and Kevin Sabo. During her sons’ high school and college years, her love and enjoyment of people continued to show with her help at many sports functions, raising money and hosting football and lacrosse dinners for the Westhampton Beach high school teams. Survivors said her gifts of kindness, emotional support and willingness to do for others were felt by all of her friends and family, as well as her sons’ friends and family.
Ms. Sabo shared an especially close bond with her nieces and nephews and her cousins’ children. Those lucky enough to be close to her hold the unique hand-made gifts she created for birthdays, graduations, weddings and many other occasions, according to her survivors.
Ms. Sabo had a large circle of family and friends. The staff at the nursing home, where she spent her last six months, often commented that she was the first resident to receive such an overwhelming number of visitors. She showed her strength and love of life by fighting her disease for nine years. Doctors wanted to send her home with hospice care, but her strength and perseverance proved them wrong.
Ms. Sabo was predeceased by her parents, Wilson and Marie Eckart; and two brothers, Thomas and Terry Eckart. She is survived by two sons, Matthew Eckart and Kevin Sabo, both of Westhampton Beach; a sister, Marie Rapino and husband Michael of Farmingville; nephews Brian Rapino and wife Ishita of Manhattan, and Jason Rapino and wife Diane of Bayshore; nieces Jessica Rapino of Farmingville and Karlyn Sabo of Westhampton Beach; aunts Alice McBride of Riverhead and Shirley Eckart of Westhampton Beach; and other relatives and friends.
A memorial service was held at Lashley Beach in Westhampton Beach on October 11, with a reception following at Eckart’s Luncheonette.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 700 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788.
on Oct 15, 2013