Lila Margaret (Lombella) Linnehan

Lila Margaret Linnehan, 83, of Sebastopol, California passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2024 after a long battle with cancer.  She is survived by her husband, David, her daughters, Megan (Patrick) Anderson and Colleen (Michael) Shields, and her six grandchildren: Theo, Hunter, Peter, Orion, Terran, and Julia.  Lila had nine siblings and is survived by one brother (Donald) and three sisters  (Alice, Hazel, and Shirley), as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Lila was born in Sebastopol to John and Rina Lombella but was adopted by Roy and Mabel Adams after the passing of her mother when she was 4 years old.  As a result, she had a large extended family whom she loved very much that included both biological and adoptive relatives.

The Lombella and Adams families were neighbors on Barnett Valley Road, so Lila had strong ties to the area and lived there almost all her life.  Prior to her illness she was often seen taking long walks along the road and had many friends there.

She started her education at the one-room Burnside School and later graduated from Analy High School in Sebastopol.  After high school she worked as a dental assistant, which suited her friendly and talkative nature.  She never met a stranger and would strike up conversations with anyone.  Later she worked at OCLI and then Hewlett-Packard, where she met her husband.  She left HP to raise her children and be a homemaker.

Being raised on a ranch she had a lifelong love of animals and of nature in general.  In her younger days she enjoyed hiking, camping, travel, and playing the accordion.

After starting a family, she was active in school activities and enjoyed trailer camping throughout California and spending time at The Cabin, their second home at Lake Tahoe.  After David retired, they took numerous car trips around the US visiting friends and family, as well as cruises to Asia, Europe, the Panama Canal, and Alaska.

Her lifelong passions included working in her garden, splitting and stacking wood, eating (especially Italian food), and playing cards.  She was beloved for her easygoing and goofy nature and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.