Linley’s Obituary

Linley Menard, 10 8.8.09 — 7.27.20

EASTON---Linley Ellen Menard earned her angel wings surrounded by loved ones at her Easton home on July 27, 2020. Linley passed away peacefully after living with a rare pediatric brain cancer, DIPG, for over 9 months.

Born in Weymouth, the loving daughter of Eric and Cassie (Janiga) Menard and sister to Luke and Griffin, she was raised in Easton and attended the Richardson Olmsted School.

Linley was the perfect child from the day she was born. Her parents once questioned her pediatrician because she was such an easy, happy, great-sleeping infant and he just said, “You are lucky, enjoy her.” Linley was born two years after her brother and was determined to catch up to him ever since. Although she was a shy toddler, she was fiercely determined and independent. She did everything early and without help. She kneeboarded at three, biked all around the neighborhood at four, and ran her first 5k the month she turned 5.

As Linley grew, her confidence and circle of friends grew through participation in sports; her favorites being soccer and gymnastics. She competed in gymnastics for several local gyms, each time with a smile on her face and in full support of her teammates. Linley played town soccer in Easton as well as club soccer with NEFC South Shore. Tiny and tenacious, she made up for what she lacked in size by playing with toughness and pure joy. She loved being part of a team and was the quintessential teammate; encouraging, positive, motivated, and always ready with high five or hug. She was known to show up for practice up to an hour early in order to to be ‘on time.’

In school, Linley was adored by teachers and classmates and was an eager learner. She was the type of student a teacher could put in any group or situation. Linley could quiet the rowdy while helping timid friends speak up. She loved all of her teachers and had an especially strong connection to her last teacher whom she’d known since birth.

Linley loved traveling and had many exciting adventures in her ten years. She snowboarded in Utah, ate macrons on the Eiffel Tower, toured London, and most recently traveled to Spain and Italy on her 10th birthday. She explored the world and the people in it with an open mind and grateful soul, leaving her handprint everywhere she went.

While Linley excelled in school and sports, it was her loving nature that truly made her special. Linley was there for others offering a smile, a giggle, a gentle touch, or the tightest bear hug. Her trademark was her contagious laugh. She was a helper, a giver, a caring friend, the best sister, and loved her life and the people in it with her whole being. She was a peace keeper, an includer, and Linley was always first to befriend a new classmate or teammate and make them feel like one of the group. She overlooked faults and celebrated strengths. She will always be her friends’ biggest cheerleader and our guiding light.

Linley will be forever missed by parents Eric and Cassie, brothers Luke and Griffin, and loyal dog Zeva. She is survived by by maternal grandparents John and Karen Janiga of Pound Ridge, NY, paternal grandparents Linda and Peter Landerholm of Lakeville (formerly of Brockton), her aunts and uncles, Lisa and Donny Westgate of Brockton, Laurie Landerholm and Fritz Clulow of Lakeville, Jill and Paul Conroy of Nashua, NH and Matt and Liz Janiga of New Canaan, CT and countless other cousins, extended family members, and devoted friends.