JUPITER, Fla. — Linda Miller Orsatti, 62, a former resident of Galesburg and Parsons, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, after a long and courageous fight with cancer. Her last moments were spent with friends and family at the hospice unit within the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. She had resided in Jupiter, Fla., with her husband, Richard Orsatti, since 2002.

She was born Aug. 28, 1947, in Parsons the youngest of four sisters and the beloved daughter of Henry and Florence (Ekstrom) Miller from Galesburg. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1965 and from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in 1968. Later, she received her bachelor’s degree in gerontology from Southern Nazarene University, as well as several certifications and accreditations within her field.

She worked as a registered nurse, taking care of others most of her life, and eventually settled in the field of gerontology and psychiatric nursing. Her hobbies outside of work included gardening, cooking, traveling and spending time with family and friends. As an active member of First United Methodist Church of Jupiter/Tequesta, she enjoyed being a parish nurse and instituted many programs for cancer patients and homebound church members. Linda was also a leading contributor to the church’s bereavement group, helping spouses and family members with the loss of a loved one.

Survivors include her husband, Richard Orsatti of Jupiter, Fla., whom she married July 3, 1992, in Claremore, Okla.; three children from a previous marriage to Paul LaForge, Natalie (LaForge) Eckroat and her husband, Steven, of Edmond, Okla., Valerie (LaForge) Davis and her husband, Mark, of Topeka and Paul Jason LaForge of Edmond, Okla.; six grandchildren, Taylor and Austin Eckroat, Alec, Caden and Katelyn Davis and Leah LaForge; two stepchildren, Andrea (Orsatti) Rowan and her husband, Shawn, of Jupiter, Fla., and Lisa Orsatti of Oklahoma City; and three sisters, Anona Mosse and her husband, Bill, of Parsons, Norma Jean Hall and her husband, Don, of Shawnee and Janice Dorris and her husband, George, of Grove, Okla.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who she loved dearly.

Linda will be missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. Following the burial, there will be a reception in the fellowship hall of the church.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or one of the local hospices and may be left at or sent to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.