Linda Joyce Basacchi Biernat

Linda Joyce Basacchi Biernat went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 28 at the age of 81.

Linda was born October 21, 1942, to Louis and Louise Basacchi in Detroit, Michigan. She was the second eldest of four children and the only daughter. Linda graduated with honors from Saint David High School in 1960. Four years later, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Detroit and later earned her Elementary Permanent (K-8) Certificate. She married Robert Biernat on August 22, 1964, and together they have two loving daughters, Alisa and Amy. Linda began her teaching career in Houghton, Michigan as a first-grade teacher. The family moved to Montgomery, Alabama in 1977, and Linda’s love of teaching came full circle as she specialized in educating 7^th and 8^th grade students in both English and Religion for 38 years at Our Lady Queen of Mercy School and later the consolidated Junior High at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. Linda retired in May 2016 and moved to Nashville to be with her family.

Dedicated, faith-filled and compassionate, Linda was a great mother, grandmother “Nonna,” friend and teacher who committed her life to helping students learn while growing their faith in Christ. She tirelessly taught the nuances of the English language instructing her students on the importance of grammar and writing while fostering a love in them for English Literature. Her favorites to teach were the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare and even provided her students with tangible Shakespearian experiences within the “Globe Theatre” walls of the Montgomery Shakespeare Festival. Linda also enjoyed sharing her Catholic faith with her 7^th and 8^th grade students working with them weekly to prepare the all-school masses. A pinnacle moment in Linda’s faith journey occurred in March 2001 when she fulfilled a life-long dream by experiencing mass at the Vatican and attending the papal audience with Saint John Paul II in Saint Peter’s Square. Linda enjoyed spending time with her friends in Montgomery and her family in Nashville, traveling each summer to spend time with her grandchildren. Linda also had a love of music, which she passed down to her daughters and grandchildren.

Linda was preceded in death by her father, Louis Basacchi and mother, Louise (Carducci) Basacchi.

She is survived by her brothers Thomas Basacchi, Robert East and Louis Basacchi, Jr.; her children, Alisa (Biernat) Donato and Amy (Biernat) Wall; and her grandchildren Sam Donato, Madeline Wall, Victoria Donato, and Mary Harrington Wall.

Her family thanks the dedicated, skilled, and compassionate staff at Brookdale Belle Meade in Nashville who managed Linda’s dementia care over the past year.

Linda’s life will be celebrated with a Mass of Resurrection at Saint Henry Catholic Church on Friday, October 25 at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School (www.montgomerycatholic.org/giving/donate-now/).

Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, 6949 Charlotte Pike, Suite 104 (615) 857-9955. We are proud to be West Nashville & Bellevue’s only locally owned and operated burial & cremation provider.