Leah E. Kleimo

KINGSVILLE — Leah E. Kleimo, age 85, of Conneaut, Ohio, left this earth to join all the family and loved ones who passed before her, with her three daughters at her side on Sunday afternoon, March 7, 2010, at the Ashtabula County Nursing Home in Kingsville, Ohio.
Born April 15, 1924, in Conneaut, she was the last surviving of 12 children of Andrew and Hilda (Kauppi) Jarvi. Leah attended Conneaut High School and married Sulo K. Kleimo on Oct. 22, 1949.
Through the years, she worked at the Astatic, Weatherseal Co., Norton Company, Nutone and Premix. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
A devoted homemaker, she enjoyed gardening and canning her own produce. She loved to cook and bake her favorite Finnish recipes to celebrate her Finnish heritage, and enjoyed collecting recipes to prepare for her family. Leah was very proud of her heritage and spoke Finnish fluently.
She had many hobbies including weaving rugs, and enjoyed horse shoes, fishing, flower gardening and outings at the family beach picnic campground.
Leah especially loved the Christmas holiday season and decorated her home with her extensive collection of holiday items.
Leah was a big Cleveland Indians fan, and was also a Conneaut Spartan Band and CHS sports enthusiast. She attended every event that she could. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, reading and playing with her cat "Mya".
Survivors include her three daughters, Susan Esposito of Ashtabula, Joan Richards and Karen Simons, both of Conneaut; four grandchildren, Christine Pipers of Conneaut, Eric (Kim) Richards of Conneaut and Mark Esposito and Scott Esposito, both of Cleveland; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous more distant relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 59 years, Sulo K. Kleimo on May 4, 2009; six brothers, Vernon, Ralph, Oliver, Fred, Edward and Henry Jarvi; and five sisters, Viola Twitchell, Ruth Linwood, Sylvia Kantola, Martha Roboski and Katherine Schlaich.
Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 13th, at the MARCY FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION CENTER, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut, Ohio, with the Rev. Franklin J. Gore, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memory Gardens, North Kingsville, Ohio.
Friends may call at the Funeral Home on Friday evening, March 12th, from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to the family. Envelopes will be available at the Funeral Home.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire staff at the Ashtabula County Nursing Home for the loving care that Leah received, and also to Dr. Douglas Angerman.
Condolences at www.marcyfuneralhome.com and starbeacon.com.