Maria Jennie Leonardi

1919 - 2013

LEONARDI, MARIA JENNIE In Rockland, MA, Friday, November 22, 2013, Maria Jennie Leonardi, 94, died peacefully. She resided at 10 Shaw Rd, Rockland, MA. She was known to family and friends as “Jennie”. She was the beloved wife of the late Ernest Leonardi. She was born April 15, 1919 in East Haven, CT, daughter of the late Nicholas and Catherine Palmieri Gentile. Loving mother of Catherine Genera and her husband Thomas of Guilford, CT, Carol Lynn Wheeler and her husband Daniel of WA, and Janet Leonardi and her husband Michael Handler of Middletown, CT. Predeceased by her son Ernest James Leonardi and her daughter Phyllis Jean Leonardi. She also is survived by three grandchildren, Phillip Thomas Genera, Kerri and Dane Wheeler, daughter-in-law Cora Leonardi Smith of MA and several loving nieces and nephews. She was raised in a close and beautiful family. She is also predeceased by a brother Frank Gentile, sisters Mary Ginnetti and Diane Landino. Jennie grew up in East Haven. After her marriage to Ernest they lived in New Haven, Milford and Ansonia. Jennie was a devoted mother and wife, and very proud that all of her children graduated from college. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 29 at 11 am in St. Mary’s Church, 731 Main St, Branford, CT 06405. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, 769 Ella Grasso Blvd, New Haven. Friends may call prior to Mass from 9 to 10:30 am at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford. Contributions in Jennie’s memory may be made to the American Heart Assoc, 5 Brookside Dr, Wallingford, CT 06492. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit: www.GuilfordFuneraIHome.com