Linda Cirillo Alicea

Linda Cirillo Alicea

August 6, 1942 – June 27, 2025

It is with deep sorrow and profound love that we announce the unexpected passing of Linda Cirillo Alicea on June 26, 2025, at her home. Born on August 6, 1942, in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, Linda lived a remarkable faith-filled life rooted in love for her family, her community, and God.

Linda is survived by her children, Ricky Warren Carpenter and Shirley Ann Fitzpatrick (John Loughlin); her granddaughters, Tiffany Alicea Carpenter and Alicea Nicole Fitzpatrick; her sister, Lydia Cruz Alicea (Eddie Cruz Arroyo); her brothers Jose Alicea (Blanca Alicea) and Jimmy Alicea (Gina Cimusz Alicea); as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Santos Alicea and Aurea Jimenez, both of San Sebastián, and her brother, Santos Alicea Jimenez of North Carolina.

After losing her mother at just five years old, Linda was raised by her grandparents in Puerto Rico. As a teenager, she moved to Brooklyn, New York, where she worked in a hat factory before returning to San Juan. There, she met her first husband, Ernest Carpenter, while working in a souvenir shop. After the birth of their son Ricky, they lived for several years in Europe where Ernest was stationed with the Army — during which time their daughter, Shirl, was born — before returning to the United States and settling in New Jersey.

Linda was a fiercely devoted mother who worked in her children’s school system as a cafeteria aide so she could be home for them. Later in life, she returned to school at night, earning her way to becoming Head of Nutritional Services for the Asbury Park School System, a position she held with pride and diligence.

Linda’s adventurous soul thrived during the years she spent traveling with her second husband, Aladin Cirillo. Their many explorations earned her the affectionate nickname “Carmen Sandiego” — her family often asking, “Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?” — a nod to her bold spirit and globe-trotting nature. She didn’t just live life, she seized it with both hands, building a home from the ground up, later buying and maintaining her own house as she aged, never asking for permission or apology.

Linda was especially proud of her granddaughters. While she shared day-to-day life with Alicea Nicole, her heart ached over the physical distance between her and Tiffany, who lived in Europe. It was a quiet sadness she carried, not being as close as she longed to be, though her love for Tiffany was unwavering and deep.

Known affectionately as “Mimi” to her granddaughters and all who truly knew her, Linda was the heart of her family and home. She had a gift for hospitality and a deep love for feeding others — not just with food, but with warmth, joy, and connection. Her cooking was legendary, her laughter contagious, and her home a place where everyone felt welcome. For Linda, entertaining wasn’t a task — it was an expression of love. She was most alive when her house was full of conversation, shared meals, and the comfort of people brought together.

Mimi made childhood unforgettable. She would dress herself and her granddaughter in quirky hats and sunglasses, swung in hammocks until they fell out laughing, and hosted beach days filled with friends, surfing, breakfast at The Starving Artist, and ice cream at Nagles. Everyone — friends, dogs, neighbors — was welcome in her orbit. She walked her beloved dog Sophie daily, forming lasting friendships throughout the neighborhood. She was known in her neighborhood for their daily walks and the friendships she made along the way.

Linda also had a special love for giving gifts. She became known for her “Linda Boxes” or “Mimi Boxes,” surprise packages she would send on birthdays, holidays, or simply because she was thinking of you. Each box was a delightful, eclectic mix of items — quirky, heartfelt, unexpected — and always full of love. No one could ever predict what treasures would be inside, and that was part of the magic. They brought laughter, joy, and a little bit of Linda’s spirit straight to your doorstep.

Linda was an avid gardener, a true green thumb and found great peace and joy among her plants. Her yard was a lush, living canvas, and she was often seen outside among her flowers and vegetables, lovingly tending to every plant as if it were a family member.

Above all, Linda was deeply spiritual. Her Catholic faith was the foundation of her life. She prayed daily for her loved ones and leaned on her faith through life’s trials and triumphs. Her belief in God wasn’t performative — it was foundational, it gave her strength, purpose, and peace.

Linda Cirillo-Alicea lived boldly, loved fiercely, and gave of herself completely. Her absence leaves a void that cannot be filled, but her legacy lives on — in every meal shared, every garden tended, every Mimi Box remembered, and every act of fearlessness we carry forward.

She was one of a kind. She will be missed more than words can express and remembered always with love, laughter, and gratitude.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025 with a memorial Mass held at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, located at 1201 Asbury Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712.

A brunch reception will follow nearby at The Majestic Hotel, 19 Main St, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756. Kindly RSVP using the link below to help us plan accordingly.

Click Here to RSVP for Memorial Reception

In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted for a memorial tree and beautification at Amanda Berry Smith Park in Ocean Grove. It was her favorite place to walk Sophie. Donations can be made here: Amanda Smith Berry Park Memorial Donation .

Services are entrusted to Jersey Shore Cremation Service, 43 Taylor Avenue, Manaquan, NJ - JerseyShoreCremation.com .