In Loving Memory of

Audrey F. Linich

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

— Revelation 21:4

In October of 2025, Audrey F. Linich of Poughkeepsie NY, died at home, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 85 years old.

Born in Jersey City, NJ, to the late Lillian (Olsen) Hintze and Adolph H. Hintze, Audrey spent her early childhood in Salem, NY.  She described it as an idyllic setting, growing up on the Batten Kill River, on Rexleigh Road, near her grandparents’ farm.  Her mother Lillian was one of the first people to “save” the historic covered bridge in the 1940s.

In later years, the family moved to Saratoga Springs, where Audrey attended high school.  She participated in theater as an actor and enjoyed the stage, but ultimately decided to study history at SUNY Albany.

In 1961, her first teaching post brought her to the town of Poughkeepsie NY, where she would end up living for the rest of her life.

Audrey taught history at Arlington High School, and it was through another teacher’s matchmaking that she met her husband, Carl James Linich.

Audrey had just survived a car accident in LaGrange.  As she was recovering, with broken bones in her feet, a bruised face and wired jaw, she was visited at her apartment by students and teachers. 

One teacher, Marion Petty, brought Carl Linich along.  Carl’s younger brother was a student of Audrey’s, who had also been telling Carl: “You have to meet Audrey.”

That first meeting led to further visits, which led to car rides, where Carl (then a police officer) would show Audrey around Poughkeepsie. 

The first meeting was at the beginning of April of 1963 and they married only a few weeks later, in June. 

They would remain married for over 62 years.

Audrey stepped back from classroom teaching, while her children were young.  Her plan to return to the classroom was halted when she began to experience hard to diagnose symptoms of pain and inflammation which affected her ability to walk. She was eventually diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1980. 

After adjusting to a new reality with various physical disabilities, Audrey began taking assignments as a home tutor with the Arlington district, often being assigned to students with the types of chronic illnesses she now fully understood.

Service was a core theme of Audrey’s life. In the 1970s she was an active member of First Lutheran Church, and with the local Harambe group in Poughkeepsie.

In the 1980s Audrey became active with the Arthritis Foundation and was a Youth Group leader for All Saints Lutheran in LaGrange. 

Around this same time, Audrey took a position as Tax Collector with the Arlington School District. She enjoyed interacting as a public servant and laying the case for those who paid taxes on the value of an educated public.

Audrey continued both the Tax Collection and tutoring of home-bound students through 2012, when she finally retired.

In her last years, Audrey and her husband Carl became members of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Poughkeepsie, and she was grateful for their willingness to minister to her, at home.

Audrey will be remembered by friends as an outspoken Christian, but not one of judgment.  She was one ready to tell the “good news” of grace, and as ready to give aid to anyone in need.  Audrey was an acting mother to many of her children’s friends as they grew up, providing love and understanding to some who were cast aside. 

Audrey loved meeting people, and learning their stories. If she met you for five minutes, she had already learned about your family, and life.  Audrey would say that’s what the study of history was- the study of stories.  

Audrey fostered in her children a love of poetry, theater, and a capella singing which complemented her husband’s instruction of drawing.  From this, all four children have had careers in the visual and performing arts.

Audrey is survived by her best friend and husband of 62 years, Carl J. Linich; her daughter Victoria L. Linich, son Carl M. Linich, daughter Elise Linich, daughter Suzette Linich, and grandchildren: Luke Linich, Kai Jimenez, Sean Linich, and Elinora Pouech, as well as her beloved sister Rosemarie (Hintze) Jackson.

She is predeceased by brothers Dolph H. Hintze, Stephen W. Hintze, and R. Michael Hintze.

A memorial celebration of Audrey’s life will be held in late May. For more information email: 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Audrey’s memory to: audreylinichmemorial@gmail.com

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

55 Wilber Boulevard

Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

(text giving: 844-914-0367)