Mildred Leonardi

Mrs. Mildred "Midge" Leonardi of Visalia passed away Thursday June 25, 2009, after a long illness, at the age of 90. Mrs. Leonardi was born June 30, 1918 in Cleveland, Ohio to Ray C. and Mary Stepka Blanchard. Midge worked as an Electronic Switch Operator for Pac Bell for many years before retiring in 1983. Midge was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. When younger, she worked in Vaudeville as a show girl, a dancer, with acrobats and with magicians. She joined the USO during WW2 and enjoyed performing for the arm service's In retirement; she enjoyed bowling, dancing, and singing and was a member of the Visalia Volunteer Singers. She will be best remembered as a loving and devoted wife and mother. She will be dearly missed. She is survived by 2 sons, James "Jimi Boston" Leonardi of Visalia; Thomas Leonardi and his wife Donna of Spring Hill, Florida, as well as many nieces and nephews in FL, ME, and MA. Mrs. Leonardi was predeceased by her husband Tommie Leonardi in 1991. Memorial service will be held Thursday July 2, 2009, 6:00 p.m. at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel. 127 East Caldwell Ave. Visalia, CA. 93277. A private interment will take place at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Cape Cod, MA. at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to St. Jude's Cancer Research.