Linda Jeanette Della Torre

Linda Jeanette Della Torre, age 63, went home into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father on February 11, 2021 after a three year battle with ovarian cancer.  Linda was born on November 15, 1957 in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she met her high school sweetheart Carl Joseph Della Torre Jr.  The two were married in 1981 and moved to Athens, Georgia.  In 1991, Carl and Linda moved to Watkinsville where they built their dream home and raised their two children, Leah and Carl.

Linda worked in healthcare for over 35 years.  Starting her career as a physical therapist, Linda moved into hospital administration.  She spent 31 years at Athens Regional Medical Center and finished her career as the Chief Operating Officer.  Linda lead with love—a love for others and a love for the Lord Jesus Christ.  She believed every decision should be bathed in prayer and there was nothing God could not impact, which is why even after she retired from Athens Regional in 2011 she continued working as a physical therapist, first at Oconee Physical Therapy in Watkinsville and then at Morgan Memorial in Madison.  She used her vocation for physical healing in conjunction with her passion for kingdom glory to share the promise of the Gospel with her patients and colleagues.

Linda’s unwavering love for the Triune God and making Him known through bold testimony only became stronger during her fierce and unrelenting battle against ovarian cancer.  Those who came along side her during these years journeyed with her to the edge of glory.  This past Wednesday she grasped the hand of her ICU nurse, placed it upon her heart, folded them in prayer, and then held them high, pointing heavenward, and heavenward she traveled early Thursday morning in the presence of her loving husband, son and daughter.

Linda is survived by her husband, Carl; daughter and son-in-law, Leah and Clay West; son, daughter-in-law and grandson Carl, Whitney and Padgett Della Torre; her mother, Elsie May, and three sisters and brother-in-laws, Mary and Larry Shingler, Judy and Don Wilber, and Laura and John Wilhelm.

Due to the current health climate and in accordance with Linda’s wishes, there will not be a public memorial service.  Her family respectfully requests that in-lieu of flowers or meals that you would consider honoring her by making a donation to the Partnership for Gynecological Cancer Support (www.supportgc.org), 770-406-3406, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to women diagnosed with gynecological cancer.

Her family asks that you rejoice in knowing Linda is with our Savior.  They pray that if you do not know Jesus that you would be drawn to His love by how Linda lived her life.   As a family, they share Psalm 46 with you:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefor, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the most high dwells. God is within her, she will not fail; God will help her at break of day, Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts His voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done…”be still and know that I am God.