Leona Marie Gendron, 99 years of age and lifelong resident of Manchester passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on February 8, 2013.
Born on May 16, 1913 to Wilfred Gendron and Alphonsine (Demers) Gendron, Leona was a passionate and caring woman. While small in stature her continual and constant selfless actions of helping those achieve their dreams made her a giant to so many.
Leona was a graduate of Manchester High School West Class of 1933 and went on to work for International Shoe and JF McElwain. Leona would later retire from the workforce to become a fulltime caregiver to her parents and spend the remainder of life living with her sister Flore and brother-in-law John Francis Coyne.
Leona was a frequent traveler to Canada, Bermuda, and the white beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast. Devoted to her Catholic faith, she formerly was an active parishioner of Sacred Heart Church and more recently was a communicant of St. Raphael Parish of West Manchester. She spent countless hours making quilts for family members and those in need and also dazzled the world with her remarkable homemade apple pie.
She is pre-deceased by her parents Wilfred Gendron and Alphonsine (Demers) Gendron, brothers Lionel, Edouard, Gerard, Lafayette, Roger, Laval, and Aime. Leona leaves behind her only sister Flore Coyne of Manchester; several nieces and nephews; dozens of great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
The family appreciates her caregiver Marilyn Butler. The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care given by Hillsborough County Nursing Home, Crestwood Care and Rehab Center and Home, Health & Hospice.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Thursday, February 14, 2013 at St. Raphael Church, 103 Walker St. Committal prayers followed in Mt. Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Sisters of the Precious Blood Monastery, 700 Bridge St, Manchester, NH 03104.