Born Eleftheria Varis on November 2, 1943 in Arahovitika (near Patras), Greece to Constantina (née Loukopoulos) and Vasilios Varis, the second of five children. Linda is predeceased by her beloved husband, Harry Kollias, and is survived by her son, Bill Kollias, daughter, Sophia Kollias, son & daughter-in-law Jim and Doris Kollias, and grandchildren, Harrison Kollias and Christina Kollias.

After World War II left their village decimated, Linda's mother, Constantina (born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and an American citizen) had to flee the country while pregnant with her third child. Meanwhile, Linda, then 2 years old and her brother John 5, were left behind at their home while their father was conscripted to fight in the Greek Civil War that followed his service in WWII. In 1947, the two children were evacuated alone on a ship bound for the United States. Once there, they were met by a relative, then reunited with their mother. Later, they all were reunited with their father and moved to Lorain, Ohio.

Linda graduated from Lorain High School and attended Elyria Business College and was first employed as a secretary to a civil engineer. She married Harry Dimitrios Kollias on April 21, 1963. After their honeymoon in Niagara Falls, they relocated to San Clemente, California where he was part owner of the Halfway House Café to start their life together.

Harry & Linda co-owned the Halfway House Cafe for 25 years from 1962 to 1977. In that time, their 3 children Jim (1966), Bill (1968) and Sophia (1972) were born. In the early 70s, Linda went back to school to obtain her real estate license and became a real estate agent in San Clemente. In 1977, the Kollias' bought a landmark restaurant in San Juan Capistrano that had been built in the 1930s and renamed it Harry's Family Restaurant. Tim Wilcox once wrote there's only one institution in San Juan Capistrano that's been around longer than Harry's - The Mission itself. Harry's was known as San Juan's Meeting Place and hosted many of the meetings of San Juan's service organizations as well as being a popular dining destination for locals and tourists alike. Tim Bolen wrote if you've missed one of Harry's Greek Nights, you're missing out on one of San Juan's incredible happenings. Harry & Linda made many improvements to modernize and rejuvenate the building; their efforts earned them a Community Pride Award 1991 from the City of San Juan Capistrano. They retired from the restaurant business in 2004.

Linda Kollias was a devout Greek Orthodox Christian and was a founding member Saint Paul Greek Orthodox Church community of Irvine in 1976 and later Saint Basil Greek Orthodox community in San Juan Capistrano. Linda's beloved avocations were reading, her doll-making, beaded flowers, needlepoint, and growing roses and orchids. She enjoyed spending time with the family dogs as well as arranging her photo books of her many travels with her husband, Harry. She also was an accomplished seamstress. Her love of Greek culture, especially Greek dance costumes took her to all parts of her native Greece to study local costume styles and recreate them for her dolls. She especially loved the Dora Stratou dance company. In retirement, Linda enjoyed making presentations on the history of Greece and Greek costumes, traveling with her husband Harry, and doting after her grandchildren, Harrison and Christina. Linda especially loved visiting the Saint Anthony Monastery in Arizona in their retirement.

Linda died on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 28, 2019) after fighting Alzheimer's disease. Friends and family are invited to attend the Trisagion memorial service at 7pm on Friday, December 6, 2019 and funeral service at 10:00am, Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Saint Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 4949 Alton Parkway, Irvine. She will be interred at El Toro Memorial Park on Monday, December 9, 2019 at 10:00am next to her late husband.

The family of Linda Kollias would like to thank you for honoring Linda with your presence.

May her memory be eternal.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Terry & Mary Harmon, Funeral Directors. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

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Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfuneraldirectors.com .

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