LINDA JOAN DIAZ

Dec. 5, 1942 - Jan. 31, 2019

Linda Joan Diaz, 76, of Brawley CA passed away on January 31, 2019 from Stage-4 Pancreatic Cancer.

Linda was born on December 5, 1942 to Caroline Santillan and Thomas Palomino in Merced California.

Linda began her career at Pioneer Memorial Hospital (PMH), which spanned 49 years, with the ambition of becoming a PBX operator. Though she never achieved that goal she did achieve much more. Beginning as a volunteer Linda spent 6 month working pay-free at PMH which at the time was ran by the nuns, before being offered a job as a CNA, followed by a job as a LVN and then finally becoming an RN. Linda was part of the first group of individuals to be accepted into PMH’s 20/40 program, which still exists today. She spent most of her time at PMH in the role as the Director of the Surgery Department. Linda spent her last years as Manager of Administrative Support Services, Manager of House Supervisors and also Manager of The Nursing Float Pool. Weeks before her passing Linda said, “When I first started working there (PMH) I never thought I would be a manager or I would enjoy working there as much as I have for as long as I have.”

She was preceded in death by her mother Caroline Santillan; father, Thomas Palomino , and son, Anthony Felix .

Linda was survived by her daughters, Kassondra Diaz and Veronica Loyd; sons, Jeremy Diaz and Nicholas Palomino; grandchildren, Garrett Howard, Torie Howard, Aubree Diaz, Alex Palomino, Mikhail Felix, Jhericko Felix; great-grandson, Silas Felix; sister, Carol Kosakowski; brothers, Thomas (Dickey) Palomino, Randy Palomino, and Michael Palomino.

Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 9 a.m. at Riverview Cemetery in Brawley, CA.