Linda D. DeCola, 73, of Chicora, a retired Karns City Area School teacher, passed away peacefully at home while in the company of her loving family Friday afternoon, August 16, 2024.
Linda was born in Butler on March 23, 1951. She was the daughter of the late Robert E. “Bob” and Margaret E. “Peggy” Sherwin McElroy.
She was a graduate of Karns City Area High School and earned a B.S. in education from Villa Maria College in Erie and her M.A. in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Mrs. DeCola was a dedicated teacher for more than 40 years, beginning her career at the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District in Foxburg where she taught for seven years. While at A-C Valley, Mrs. DeCola wrote several successful federal grants and used those funds to greatly enrich the learning environment of her students. She later taught home economics and child development at Karns City Area High School and retired in 2013 following more than 34 years of service. Mrs. DeCola was highly respected among the district’s students, staff, and parents. Her students were affectionately, “her little lambs.” She was passionate about instilling in them the values of parenting and raising a family.
She was a long-time active member of the Karns City United Methodist Church. Linda had been a member of the former Chicora Chapter # 354 of the Order of Eastern Star and had served as mother advisor to the Rainbow Girls. In retirement, Linda enjoyed quilting, cooking, and traveling with the quilting club, her retired colleagues, and most especially trips to Disneyland with the grandkids.
Linda is survived by her husband of nearly fifty years, Daniel J. DeCola Sr., whom she married in Karns City on July 3, 1976. Also surviving is a son, Daniel J. DeCola Jr. and his wife, Mina, of Cranberry Twp.; a daughter, Elysha D. DeCola (Daniel Helch) of Chicora; four grandchildren, Luca D. DeCola and Malèna K. “Lanie” DeCola of Cranberry Twp. and Gianna M. and Adelynn D. Helch of Chicora; a brother, Robert McElroy and his wife, Tammy, of Chicora; two sisters, Cynthia Allen of Chicora and Rebecca McElroy Maffei of Butler; two step sisters, Kimberly Lorts and her husband, Buck, of Oregon and Pamela Barlett and her husband, Allen, of Bruin; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Frank and Marcia DeCola of Lower Burrell, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers-in-law, James Allen and Ralph Maffei, her stepmother, Ruth McElroy, and her mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, August 20, 2024. A funeral service will be held from the funeral home at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2024, with the Rev. Jim Lewis, her former church pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Hillview Cemetery in The Village of Kepple’s Corners. Members of the Butler Chapter # 45 O.E.S. will conduct a memorial service for their departed sister Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or a children’s charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.
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