We said goodbye to our beautiful Lindy on September 9th, 2026. She shall be remembered for her creative and artistic spirit.
Linda was born in Jersey City on August 7, 1956, to John Hodnett and Christine Pantozzi. From a young age, she possessed a natural gift for working with animals. She trained horses and earned her animal behavior certification in Queens, New York. She subsequently worked as a dog trainer for PetSmart before establishing her own dog training business, Best Behavior, in South New Jersey.
In addition to her work with animals, Linda was a multitalented performer and writer. She sang and performed semi-professionally as a Broadway-style dancer with a dance troupe in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. She was also a prolific songwriter, lyricist, poet, and short story writer.
In 1985, she relocated to Nashville with her children, Colleen and James Reilly. There, she became an active participant in the local music community and frequently attended performances at the Bluebird Café alongside her fellow musicians. She was a disciplined and hard worker, highly admired among her peers for her determination and dependability at TriStar Twice Daily.
She was the former wife of the late Francis Michael Reilly (Ace), mother of the late James Ace Reilly, and beloved grandmother of late Alana Ember Ward. She will be laid to rest in Charlotte, Tennessee, beside her granddaughter and with her son James.
She is survived by her daughter, Colleen Reilly Brown, and her son-in-law, Jonathan Brown.
