Obituary of Linden Michelle Ray

Linden Michelle Ray passed away suddenly on November 1, 2021. She had shared 26 years of creativity, support, dedication, integrity, countless laughs, and priceless memories with those lucky enough to have been part of her life.

Born in Englewood, NJ, she grew up and lived in Dumont NJ before moving to Lake Hiawatha 3 years ago. Linden was a 2013 graduate of Dumont High School. She earned her Associates degree from Bergen Community College and received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Montclair State University in 2020. A perennial student of knowledge and life, Linden never stopped learning. She had a passion for music, art, and stories, believing strongly in their power to connect and change people. Linden enjoyed writing, playing the piano, video games, coding, solving puzzles, knitting and crocheting, and going to concerts. She had an inquisitive mind and would put in the time to research and learn about a topic or belief to make her own decision about how she felt about it; she did not take anyone’s word for what was true and right, she arrived at her own educated understanding and perspective and stood firmly by it.

She was a nonconformist; empathetic, conscientious, and committed, if nothing else, to do right by who she could in the ways she could, regardless of what people thought of it. Linden was a devoted family member and a trustworthy friend. She had a sense of humor and quick wit that were unparalleled. The world is a better place for her having been in it, and we will be forever grateful to have known her.

Linden leaves many joyful memories to her mother, Ellen Lohsen of Lake Hiawatha, NJ; her father, Brian Ray of East Orange, NJ; her sister Olivia Ray of Lake Hiawatha, NJ; her grandmother Adele Guthrie of Tacoma, WA; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She is predeceased by her grandmother and grandfather Lottie and Bill Lohsen, her grandfather Edward Lee Ray, her uncle Danny Lohsen, and her aunt Danielle LaTouche Lohsen.

Memorial Visitation will take place on Saturday, November 13th from 2 - 4 pm, with a Remembrance Service at 2:35 pm at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville. Please leave a condolence, light a candle, or share your favorite memory of Linden here to continue to let her light shine. Memorial donations can be made in Linden’s memory to NJ Sharing Network, saving lives through organ and tissue donation, as she did: https://www.njsharingnetwork.org/contribute. or by mail, NJ Sharing Network, Attn: Foundation, 691 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974 with the required contribution form.

If you are unable to attend the services, you will be able to join by Zoom. Zoom begins at 2:35 pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83511646772?pwd=ZjZTOTdIZ2h0VHlpYnFGd3Q0N0kwdz09

Meeting ID: 835 1164 6772
Passcode: 572693

Seal Lullaby
Linden accompanied the Dumont High School choir by playing the piano solo for this beautiful song

Oh, hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us
And black are the waters that sparkled so green
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to find us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between

Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow
Oh weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee
Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas

Asleep in the arms
Of the slow swinging seas