Linda L. "Lin" Mollway

Linda Lea (Lin) Speake Mollway, who was the most unselfish person that most anyone could ever know, passed away peacefully in her sleep with her family at her side on January 26, 2015 after a courageous battle with leukemia.

Lin was a fantastic person, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. Her first concern – always – was about others; so much so that she did not want her death to come at an inconvenient time for others. In addition to family, she loved reading, working crossword puzzles, tracing her family history, coffee with friends, and travel (but also just being home). Healing Pathways (cancer resource center), and the many friends she made there, brought her great comfort over the past few years.

Lin was born in Rockford, Illinois to Juanita (McClellan) and Harry L. Speake. After a very brief working career, she married Paul Allen Mollway on January 4, 1964 in Rockford, Illinois. Soon, she became a full-time mom. John Michael was born October 20, 1964 and Jeffrey Allen on October 15, 1966. While Paul was working long hours, Lin had primary responsibility for raising their sons and maintaining their home. It wasn’t a great help to her that when they bought five acres north of Byron, Illinois, Paul stuck her in the country to live in a trailer while their new home was being built. He also brought home an Irish setter puppy. Not smart. But, because of her understanding, they had an amazingly loving marriage of more than 51 years.

While John and Jeff were young, Lin and Paul took family driving vacations to 46 of the 48 continental United States. Lin and Paul also visited Europe on three occasions and loved their two cruises (Hawaii and Alaska). She was very supportive of Paul’s working career and of his various obsessions. Her only obsession was the well-being of her family and dear friends. Lin loved the 20 years that they vacationed on Marco Island and the fantastic friends they made there. She also became fond of the area of Southern California in which they spent part of each of the last few winters.

Nearby trips she enjoyed for most all her life were to Monroe, Wisconsin for a cheese sandwich at Baumgartner’s as well as to Dubuque, Iowa for a ride on the Fourth Street Elevator and to watch for barges at Lock and Dam 11. As a child, she also loved the time spent with Aunt Pauline and Uncle Gene McFarland at their summer home (Camp 19), near Galena, on the Mississippi River.

Lin will be missed terribly by her family and her many friends. She was a true friend, who taught us so much. She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson Tyler James Mollway; special brother-in-law, Keith Johnson; and many aunts and uncles. Survivors include: husband, Paul; sons, John and Jeff; grandsons, Nathan, Austin, and Joshua; sister, Shirley Johnson; and many very dear nieces and nephews. A very special ‘thank you’ is extended Dr. Ajaz Khan; the amazingly caring staffs of OSF Cancer Center, Ambulatory Care, and 4 West; and to Rev. William Wentink for the love and support shown to Lin over the past nineteen months.

Services will be Saturday, January 31, 2015 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 1010 Ferguson Street, Rockford, with visitation from 9-11 a.m. at the church, followed by a funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Private burial will be on Monday. Memorials may be made to Healing Pathways, 3921 East State St., Rockford.