Linda Louise Clarke Mathews

Linda Louise Clarke Mathews passed away on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, in Hammond, Louisiana, at the age of 83.  She was born on Monday, May 19, 1941, and was a lifelong resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.  She loved life fearlessly and to the fullest.  She adopted everyone she knew as her own. She will be dearly missed, but we know she is no longer in pain and is now with her eternal family.

Linda leaves behind the love of her life, Ervin Sterken; best friend, Kenneth Mathews; children, Kenny Mathews (Ann Marie), Barbara Navarre (Paul), and Vickie Jenkins (Timmy Wayne); nieces, Jackie Simon Clarke, Carol Anne, and Jane Hughes; grandchildren, Marie, Ottis, Casie, Christine, Jamie, Ben, and Emily; great grandchildren, Sharon, Gracie, Savannah, Jaida, Issac, and Oakley; and foreign exchange children who she loved as her own, Christian, Gerrit, Robin, and Jeannette.  Also survived by many extended family members and friends.

Preceded in death by her mother, Wilva Morris Clarke and father, Cloyd “Happy” Clarke; sisters, Barbara Simon and Carolyn Hughes; and nephew, Andy Simon Clarke.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Celebration of Linda’s Life at the Ponchatoula Beach Pavilion, 39484 Beach Road, Ponchatoula, LA on Saturday, April 5, 2025, beginning at 11:00 am, with brief service around 2:00 pm.

Share your thoughts and memories of Linda in her guestbook by visiting Lnhughes.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation online at Arthritis.org/donate or the Tangi Humane Society online at TangiHumaneSociety.org/donating, in memory of Linda.

Arrangements have been entrusted to LN Hughes Funeral Services of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.