Linda Sue (Thorne) Collura

Ms. Linda Sue (Thorne) Collura, age 62, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, entered eternal rest on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at her residence.

The Obituary

Linda Sue Collura (née Thorne), 62, passed away peacefully in her home in Pittsboro, North Carolina, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in the early morning, her husband George at her bedside.

Linda was born May19th 1963 in New Brunswick, New Jersey to the late Floyd Austin Thorne and Jesse Farr (née Lasley). She was the youngest of 4 children.

Linda graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Alfred University in New York, a Graduate Level Teacher Certification from Rider University in New Jersey, and a Master’s in Art Education from Eastern Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

On August 14, 2021, Linda wed George (Geo) deSocio.  They were a loving and committed couple, better for the challenges they were to face.

Linda was a devoted mother to son Larrie Samuel Collura, born February 25, 1993, and son Tyler Austin Collura, born January 30, 1998.

Linda’s career was as a dedicated artist, and teacher to future artists. She worked with thousands of public-school children from New Jersey to North Carolina. In NC she taught art in Wake, Chatham and Lee Counties.  She also enjoyed teaching art from her home studio to individual students, and online to public school students during the Covid pandemic.

In 2015 Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer which she overcame and returned to teaching.  In October 2020, she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma and then retired with disability from teaching and began critical treatment for her illness.  Although the Glioblastoma affected her ability to create with her painting hand, she was still able to teach students privately one on one in her home studio.

When Linda would run into former students, they always remembered her and she’d remember them, usually by name, and they would proudly say she was their favorite teacher. In 2008 she worked with many students as part of the Pittsboro Haw River Mural Project.

Linda examined the many sides of nature and used it as inspiration in her creativity. On her many hikes with her son Tyler and husband Geo, she would take photographs to use as art inspiration. Her art was formed by local, natural, and man-made objects. Linda loved the beaches, lakes and rivers of North Carolina, the mountains and trails, the State and National parks, for exercise, inspiration, and relaxation.

Linda was a lover of music and theater and attended many live music concerts. She loved on and off-Broadway plays, fine dining, local nightlife, local music, dancing, art shows, and any opportunities to support community arts. She especially loved gallery installations of her artwork and mixing with other artists.

Linda is survived by her husband, devoted friend and partner George (Geo) deSocio, son Tyler Collura and his father Larrie F. Collura of Pittsboro, North Carolina, her brother Kenneth Thorne (Ruth) of Princeton, New Jersey, and sister Judy Thorne of Boise, Idaho.  Also surviving is Linda’s mother, Jessie Thorne Farr of Siler City, North Carolina, and relatives and friends in North Carolina and New Jersey.

Linda is predeceased by her son Larrie S. Collura (December 26, 2020).  Her brother David Thorne, and father Floyd Thorne (Jessie Thorne Farr).

In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to the Linda Collura Scholarship Fund, supporting the annual NHSAEF Visual Arts Scholarship Award.

https://nhsaef.org/news/f/new-collura-fund-honors-local-artist-and-educator

The family would like to extend appreciation to Linda’s care teams:

-Neuro Oncology care team led by Dr. Annik Desjardins, Rosemary Ketring RN OCN, Duke Cancer Center, Brain Tumor Clinic, part of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center in Durham NC.

-UNC care team in Chapel Hill

-UNC Hospice Care team

-Her home health care team

-Our treasured caregivers and household glue, Latoya Slade (early on), Erma Farrington, Donna Loyd, and Jada Coleman

We especially thank Heart2HeartNC, Brooksie Edwards, Amy Durso, Lolly Dunlap, Sheila Fleming, and also Tracy Lynn, Scotty and Diane and dear neighbors and friends too many to name for help and food, to keep us from being isolated full time.  Thank you all.

"We do not own copyrights to the background music."

Thank you for helping us protect the families and communities we serve.

Professional services entrusted to Knotts Funeral Home-Pittsboro, NC