St. Pete continues to mourn the Jan. 4 passing of former Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) shelter director Linda Osmundson, who died of an undisclosed condition.
Osmundson spent more than two-and-a-half decades at the helm of the nonprofit, which started out as a small battered women's shelter and under her watch grew into a facility with the capacity to not only house over a hundred victims of domestic violence, but also offer programs aimed at preventing abuse and bettering the lives of women and their families.
Her loss was felt across the region, with dignitaries and activists alike paying tribute.
Speaking on the floor of U.S. Congress Wednesday, U.S. Rep. David Jolly (R-Indian Shores) called Osmundson "a survivor, a leader and a compassionate woman who dedicated her life to making the Pinellas County community and the state of Florida safer." (Video embedded below.)
"Linda Osmundson's family leaves a legacy that will not be forgotten," he said. "She was a quiet hero in our community, and her life's work, undeniably, saved thousands of lives and made Florida a safer place. For that we are grateful."
An event celebrating her life is set to take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22 at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg.
This article appears in Jan 7-13, 2016.