Linda M. Metzger, 77, of Mountville, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. She was born in Mountville, daughter of the late Cleon M. and Marie L. Chillas Elslager.
Linda was so many good things.
A long time ago, Linda said that she wanted to make her final wishes simple and practical. "There will be no formal funeral," she said. When Linda spoke, it was best to listen. No exclamation was required.
Linda was inspired by other people who had unconventional obituaries--offering recipes, poems, and salient advice when they passed. This champion and energetic runner, Hempfield High School, Class of 1965 graduate, Fulton Bank employee, Hempfield food service worker, and crossing guard was a dynamic lady of the community.
That is a lot of quality to cram into one sentence. She was practical; that is how she would like it.
She won top-state prizes for her chocolate bon bon confections, a recipe she demanded to be shared in her obituary.
Linda had the loudest voice any mother could own in our neighborhood. When she called for her two children to come home at the end of a playful day, daughter Shona and son Todd would move faster than any human thought possible. Every kid, dog and blade of grass heard her. The grass still shudders from her voice to this day--40 years later.
We will miss that voice--boisterous, serious and concerned.
There was power in her voice. She was power.
Linda resonated in other ways as a stalwart, determined an uncompromising person of principle; that was Mom. She chose quality instead of quantity, which is why we celebrate her as she had wished.
There are no words that can express the sorrow, the void that she leaves. Linda was a brilliant baker, making every kind of bread, cookie, cake and pie. This Mountville native, this grandmother of Emily and Grace, and the wife of William for 55 years, was independent, generous and a good kind of stubborn.
She was stern.
She was frugal.
She was beautiful.
She was Mom.
Please celebrate her life with us by making these chocolate delights.
Disclaimer: Her estate is not responsible for increases in waist sizes. Yes, the bon bons are that good.
We love you, Mom
Recipe:
Peanut Butter Chocolate Bon Bons:
12 ounces peanut butter
1 stick butter
1.5 cups confectioner sugar
3.5 cups crispy rice cereal
Paraffin wax (as needed)
Block or bag of real chocolate--semisweet or silky milk chocolate (about 15 ounces)
In a saucepan, melt peanut butter and butter. When liquid, add confectioner sugar. Be aware of confectioner sugar lumps. Whisk away lumps. They are pesky, like unknown relatives who have discovered you won the lottery. Be aware. In a large bowl, pour melted mixture over cereal and blend. Chill, slightly.
When chilled, form dough into balls. Chill formed balls until firm.
Coating: Melt chocolate. Add paraffin wax to melted chocolate--one teaspoon to start. This depends on humidity, external temperature and whether or not you follow the required recipe ingredient measurements. You know who you are, and she will know. Paraffin will give the chocolate gloss, a glazed shine. Coat balls with melted chocolate. Cool. Eat if you dare. You would want to.
Arrangements by the Workman Funeral Homes, Inc., Mountville/Columbia. To send an online condolence, visit the condolence page.