Linda Smyth DiFrancesco

Linda Smyth DiFrancesco, age 69, of Coatesville, PA, passed away on February 17 surrounded by her loving family, after a brave four-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. 

Born in Darby, PA in 1955, she was the daughter of the late John F. and Jeanne (nee O'Reilly) Smyth. Linda grew up in Springfield, PA and was a graduate of St. Dorothy’s School and Cardinal O'Hara High School (1973). She received her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising at Drexel University.  After college, while working for Strawbridge and Clothier, Linda traveled the world as an accessories buyer. She loved to tell the stories of her experiences in Rome, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, and India where she collected the latest fashions for the store and herself; keepsakes that her daughters will now be able to treasure forever.  Linda’s second career was in sales, spending over a decade working for Welcome Wagon and later becoming a real estate agent. 

A devoted rugby wife, Linda enjoyed more travel with her husband Michael all over the country and across the pond to England in the 70s and early 80s. Many of her lifelong friends were made through Whitemarsh RFC, cheering on the sideline at the games with food, drink, and family.

 Linda had an appreciation for everything beautiful. She appreciated the beauty in buildings, nature, people, and places. She enjoyed touring museums and gardens, talking and relating with people she met while working, and she was always the one to appreciate a sunset telling her family to “Look at the sky!” when it was picture worthy. Her appreciation for beauty and design transcended into helping organize weddings, parties, and holidays for her family. Spending time on the  details of her events was her favorite way to show love through a hobby she enjoyed. Linda liked to spend time gardening, cooking, being creative and above all, spending as much time with family as she could. Some of her fondest memories were from spending her summer vacations in Sea Isle City, NJ with her loved ones. Sea Isle was considered “her happy place.”

Linda was the beloved wife of Michael A. DiFrancesco, with whom she shared 45 years of marriage; loving mother of Laura Maloney (Joseph), Michelle Wallace (Adam), and Jeanne DiFrancesco (William DeJessa); adoring Mommom of Arlo(4), Jude(3), Fiona(2), and Desmond(1); dear sister of Brian "Kutch" Smyth (Jeannie), Beth Siano (John), and Bill Smyth (Cathy) and sister in-law of Gay Smyth and Carol Smyth; predeceased by her siblings, John Smyth, Jr. and Jeff Smyth; and her father and mother in law, William and Mary DiFrancesco; also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Friday, February 23, 2024 at SS Simon & Jude Church, 8 Cavanaugh Court, West Chester, PA 19382, followed by her Funeral Mass at 12:00 PM. Interment private.