Linda Merlese Rouse Gomez

December 13, 1942 ~ July 10, 2025

Linda Merlese Gomez, affectionately called “Linchie" was born on December 13, 1942, on the island of Sint Eustatius (Statia) in the Netherlands Antilles and for the last 45 years resided in LaPlace, Louisiana, entered into eternal rest on July 10, 2025, at the age of 82.

Linche left Statia in her formative years to continue her education in Aruba and after graduation returned to her home island where she gained employment doing clerical work in the government office. In 1968, while on vacation to St. Croix, U.S.V.I. she met what would be her mate for life, Oscar, and they courted until they were married in September of 1970 and resided in St. Croix. Linda worked as a bank teller in St. Croix until her husband received a job opportunity in Louisiana where they relocated to in 1980. Once in Louisiana she was a full time Mom until her girls got older and she gained employment at a Deli where she worked until 2005. When the business closed that year due to Hurricane Katrina Linche retired to being a homemaker. As the years passed, she could always be found in her kitchen cooking or making her famous meat pies. In 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation and was in full remission come 2024.

Linda lived out her final years being loved and cared for due to failing health but always kept a positive mindset and grace through it all.

She leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 54 years, Oscar Gomez, her daughters: Indra and Kishana Gomez, a grandson: Larry “Trai" Snyder, 2 great-grandsons: Carson and Cameron Gomez, 3 brothers: Ronald “Chester" Rouse (Evette), Vincent Francis, and Andrew “Andy" Rouse, 1 sister-in-law: Lynette “Lynn" Rouse, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents: Lucas and Laura Rouse, her siblings: Lasil Rouse, Margaret Henriquez, Naida Lester, Shirley Sadasey, and Edwin Tweed, grandsons: Donté Snyder and Dario Gomez.

Relatives and friends of the family, pastors, officers and members of Beacon Light Church and all neighboring Churches are invited to A Celebration of Life Memorial Service at 12:00pm on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Beacon Light Church of LaPlace, 625 Woodland Drive, LaPlace, Louisiana 70068. Interment Private. Final Arrangements Entrusted to Patrick H. Sanders Funeral Home & Funeral Directors, LLC. 605 Main Street, Laplace, LA 70068.985-359-1919. “Providing Care & Comfort is Our Highest Mission.”