07/08/2026
The Original Team Quade.
Over the past week, I've been overwhelmed by the kindness, grace, and patience so many of you have shown as I stepped away to be with my mom during her final days.
Last Friday, Linda "Mama Q" passed away peacefully and I was able to be by her side in NC.
Many of you knew her personally. Others knew her through the countless stories I've shared over the years. And if you've been part of my journey for any length of time, there's a good chance your path crossed hers somewhere along the way.
Long before there was a Team Quade, there was Mama Q.
She joined me on early morning trips to the NYC Flower Market when she visited, spent time in the Red Hook studio, jumping in behind the scenes in the "office," and lent her superpowers to Iditarod projects in countless ways for over a decade. She was woven into this business long before most people ever knew her name. For over 25 years she has been a part of the fabric of Quade Flowers & Events in some form or fashion from NYC to Alaska.
She was also my biggest cheerleader, my toughest critic, and one of the reasons this business exists at all.
One of the things I'll miss most are our "board meetings."
Whenever I was wrestling with a business decision, I'd call Mama Q. We'd talk it through from every angle. She'd ask questions, challenge my thinking, and offer her perspective—but she never told me what to do.
At times, it was wonderfully frustrating. I wanted an answer, and she was determined that I find my own.
Looking back, I realize those conversations taught me how to think critically, trust my instincts, and lead with confidence. They shaped not only the person I am, but the way I run this business every single day.
This business has always been built on relationships. Over the years, so many of you have become friends, collaborators, and part of an extended community that has walked alongside us through celebrations, milestones, challenges, and now this season of saying goodbye.
Thank you for every message, hug, meal, every adjustment to a deadline, and every bit of grace you've extended—not only over this past week, but throughout this long journey.
As I find my footing again, I'll be easing back into work. There will be moments when I need to slow down and make space for grief, and I appreciate your patience and kindness as I navigate this new chapter.
Mama Q and I were a family of two. There's something uniquely special about the bond between an only child and a single mom. It's hard to explain, but if you've lived it, you understand. We grew up together in so many ways. There were seasons when life was easy and seasons when it wasn't. Times we didn't speak, and other times we talked several times a day. We laughed, we disagreed, we frustrated one another, and we loved each other fiercely through it all. That kind of relationship doesn't end; it simply changes, and I'll be learning what that looks like one day at a time.
Mama Q leaves behind an incredible legacy of determination, resilience, humor, fierce independence... and curiosity. She taught me to ask good questions, to think things through, and to trust that I could figure out the answer. Those lessons will continue to shape the way I lead this business and move through the world every single day.
Thank you for loving her, cheering us on, and for continuing to support Team Quade.
The care she received at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in her final days was extraordinary. Their compassion, dignity, and kindness brought comfort not only to Linda, but to all of us who loved her. If you would like to honor her memory, memorial contributions may be made to the hospice house so they can continue providing that same remarkable care to other families. https://www.trellissupport.org/donate -id-368
With so much gratitude,
kQ.
