Leah R. Leone

Leah R. (Pingeton) Leone, 90 of Worcester, was peacefully called home to spend eternity with her beloved husband, Toby, and son, Richard, on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at Saint Vincent’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Leah was born in Worcester, a daughter of the late Augustus and Leda (Del Greco) Pingeton. She worked as the Director of Admission at Fairlawn Rehabilitation for many years before she retired. She previously worked in the registrar’s office at Quinsigamond Community College and was an accounts payable supervisor at UMass Medical Center. Leah was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Our Lady of Loreto Parish), the Frohsinn Club and in her younger years, she taught CCD at St. Peter’s Church. Leah had a strong faith throughout her life, and prayed the rosary every day. Leah was also a gallivanter extraordinaire. She was a lively sort with a mischievous smile and an adventurous spirit. There was no telling what she might do or say at any given moment, sometimes to the chagrin of her family who were almost always close by. She was quite fond of her family….especially if they were taking her out for a banana split, to the casino or to dinner where she may or may not have enjoyed several Midori and pineapple cocktails. In any event, life will be a little duller without her in it.

Leah’s husband of 67 years, Anthony R. “Toby” Leone passed away on January 7, 2023. She is survived by three children, Denise M. (Leone) Paquette and her husband Ed of Bluffton, SC., Joseph J. Leone and his wife Cathi of Worcester and Melissa Jean Lajeunesse and her husband Michael of Worcester; seven grandchildren, Edward Paquette and his wife Heather, Erin Hebert, Joseph Paquette and his wife Mari-Beth, Elizabeth Leone, Nicholas Leone, Christopher Lajeunesse and his wife Celia and Megan Lajeunesse; eight great grandchildren, Tyler, Jillian, Keygan, Bella, Jaxton, Dominic, Patrick and Frederick; three brothers, Augustus Pingeton of West Boylston, John Pingeton and his wife Patricia of Worcester and Thomas Pingeton and his wife Nancy of Worcester; a sister, Paula Schraffa and her husband Louis of Worcester; several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Besides her husband and parents, Leah is predeceased by a son, Richard Leone in 1960; four sisters, Barbara Dagesi, Janice Hultberg, Beverly Carpino and Rosalind Pingeton.

Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours on Friday, August 15th from 4-7 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025 from the funeral home in procession to Our Lady of Loreto Church, 37 Massasoit Rd., Worcester where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.