Claudia Jo Linzels

Claudia Jo Linzels, 73, of Davie, passed away October 1, 2020.

On Thursday, October 1, 2020 an amazing, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, Claudia Jo Linzels of Davie, was called home at the age of 73.

Claudia was a Christian, a member of the church of Christ since the age of 10. For more than twenty years, she was a member of the West Broward church of Christ in Plantation, Florida.

She loved God, Jesus and her family. Many who knew her reflect on her love of her family, faith, loving sweet disposition, kindness, and caring nature. She almost never asked for anything for herself, but thought of others, especially her family. She never wavered from her faith and her life decisions were based on her knowledge of God’s word.

She was an artist with talents including drawing and painting. She used her creative talents throughout her life from crafts with her children and their friends, to country crafts and other art that may still grace the homes in the area, as well as, restoration of antique paintings for New York art dealers.

In 1971, while working at Southwestern Bell, Claudia met Oscar on a blind date. Oscar immediately knew she was the “one”. They would marry three months later – once in her parent’s home, then later in the week at the University church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. They planned to celebrate 49 years of marriage in November.

Oscar and Claudia have two children, Tiffany and Adam. Many years later, the family would grow with the addition of granddaughter, Christina, son-in-law, Jorge and daughter-in-law, Kresta.

Claudia was blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom to raise their two children, Tiffany and Adam. When they were nearing high school age, she re-entered the workforce managing a local craft store, Creative Seasons. She created constantly including dried flower arrangements, wood crafts, fabric crafts and painted nature scenes on antique saws for Memories Antiques. After leaving the craft store, she worked in retail before obtaining a position with a local University where she retired as Director of Finance for the Student Educational Centers in 2013.

She loved to have fun with her husband, children and grandchild. It didn’t have to be anything fancy, just time with her family, talking over a cup of coffee, walking through the neighborhood, shopping, planning the next creative project, listening to the day’s stress and providing encouragement, finding creative ways to get things done, writing silly poems, and making little jokes to make you smile. Even in difficult circumstances, Claudia was a positive force in the lives of those who loved her.

Claudia was an active member of the greeter’s ministry at West Broward church of Christ for many years. She was the smiling face and the welcoming loving presence when visitors and members entered the building. In addition, she worked with church leadership in developing material for the welcome packet and preparing for “Friends and Family Days”. After she began retirement, she stepped down from the greeter’s ministry. She did continue to serve by assisting with vacation bible school and packing supplies for the church run food bank.

She was an animal lover who had many pets over the years, including cats, dogs, pet chickens and ducks.  She most recently adopted and spoiled cats – Winter and Dinozo. Over the years, she would help her children rescue ducklings that were ill when the lake was treated and has rescued a number of baby opossums. In retirement, she and Oscar raised Monarch and Giant Swallowtail butterflies. Christina joined their hobby of raising butterflies.

Claudia is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Dyer Watson and Bessie Jo (Sullivan) Watson, infant son, brother-in-law, James F. Linzels, and Sister-in-law, Ina Rudene Watson.

Surviving include: her husband of 49 years, Oscar A. Linzels, daughter, Tiffany Linzels-Garcia, son, Adam Linzels, granddaughter, Christina Linzels (the apple of her grandma’s eye), son-in-law, Jorge Rogel Garcia, daughter-in-law, Kresta Hodgers, granddaughter, Kaitlyn Hodgers, siblings, Susan Carter, Tim Watson, Phillip S. Watson,  brother-in-law, William Carter, sister-in-law, Marie Linzels, as well as, nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 please contact Tiffany Linzels-Garcia at [email protected] for additional details.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital in Claudia’s honor.