Teresa J. (Leo) LeBlanc, 102
1923 - 2025
Salem - Teresa J. (Leo) LeBlanc, 102, of Salem, MA, peacefully passed away at home on October 28, 2025. She was the wife of the late Raymond G. LeBlanc, Sr.
Born on September 20, 1923, Teresa was the daughter of the late John and Mary (DeFillipo) Leo and resided in Salem for over 77 years. Born in Boston's North End, she moved to Lynn, MA when she was a teenager. She attended the High School of Practical Arts in Roxbury, MA, where she proudly achieved the award of Perfect Attendance for all four years when she graduated in 1940. She worked first at General Electric until she was married on June 13, 1948, and then at Eaton's Drug Store for 30 years. During her retirement, she was a steadfast volunteer at the Salem Hospital gift shop for just over 25 years, until she was nearly 90 years old.
She was very proud of her Italian heritage and enjoyed many trips to Italy. She spoke daily to her cousin Teresa in Italy, making sure to stay updated on her relatives in Siano.
She was a long time member of St. Joseph's Parish in Salem, MA and then St. James Parish. Her faith was always a beacon of hope; her family often said she was closer to God than almost anyone.
Teresa's greatest joy was being around her family and spending Sunday dinners and holidays with them. She was an amazing cook who could whip up something delicious out of nothing, and never let you leave her house without eating something, even if you weren't hungry. There were always cookies in the drawer, candy in the jar, and no major holiday or event was complete without her famous anisette cookies and cream cheese cherry pies. Teresa was also an avid crocheter who gave so many people a hand-made afghan or baby blanket, single handedly ensuring that no family member would ever be cold.
Teresa was a loving, caring, kind woman, with a keen sense of judgement, with whom you could always talk. She was devoted to her family and will be deeply missed. Christmas Eve especially will never be the same.
She is survived by her daughter, Donna M. Griggs and her son, Raymond G. LeBlanc, Jr. and his wife, Doris, all of Salem, MA; eight grandchildren: Raymond G. LeBlanc, III and his wife Trista, Renee LeBlanc, Kevin LeBlanc and his wife Dianne, Tara Barton and her husband Chuck, Nicole O'Leary and her husband Rick, Tanya Mateer and her husband Jamie, Bryan LeBlanc and Ashley LeBlanc; ten great-grandchildren: Caroline, Brianna, Tayla, Kendra, Isabella, Cassadi, Ethan, Abby, Arianna and Robert; her brother, Robert Leo and his wife Jean, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Robert C. Griggs, Jr., her sisters and brothers-in-law Josephine and Archie Palmieri, Lucy and Arthur Marengi, Jane and Robert Mullins, brothers and sisters-in-law John and Phyllis Leo, Anthony and Ruth Leo, her brother-in-law Henry LeBlanc and his wife Eleanor, and her sisters-in-law Helen Rozumek and her husband Raymond and Sr. Anita LeBlanc, SASV.
The family also wishes to thank her amazing caregiver, Milak, for taking care of her so well these past four years and treating her with such respect and dignity.
Service Information: Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 from 4-7 pm at Solimine Funeral Home 426 Broadway (Rt 129) Lynn, MA. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 from the Solimine Funeral Home at 8:45am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10am at Immaculate Conception Church, Salem, MA. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem, MA. Those who prefer may make donations to
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501
St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Directions and guestbook at
www.solimine.com
Published by Daily Item on Nov. 10, 2025.