Obituary for Catherine Leoni
Catherine Leoni, 51, of 106 10th
Ave. No., Hurley, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, in her home, surrounded by her
loving family, following a courageous battle with brain cancer. The former Cathy Paige was born Sept. 25,
1959, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of Roger and Patti (Conhartoski) Paige. She
attended school in Kenosha and St. Mary's Grade School in Hurley, and graduated
from J.E. Murphy High School in 1977. She then attended the nursing program at
Gogebic Community College and became a licensed practical nurse. She was
employed at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation, and Assisted Living Community in
Ironwood for many years, and at Sky View Nursing Center in Hurley up until the
time of her death. Cathy was a member of St. Mary's Catholic
Church in Hurley, where she was very active with the youth group. She also
volunteered her time with the Hurley K-12 PTO, and was a big supporter of the
football program at Mesabi College in Virginia, Minn. She loved being with her
grandchildren, fishing, walking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. She was
always thoughtful of others before herself, and always had time to do a favor
for a friend. Her family was the most important thing to her. Cathy married Gary Leoni on Nov. 11, 1988, in
Hurley. He survives. Also surviving are a son, Gary Jr., at home;
two daughters, Lisa Leoni (Joel Sturkey), Menomonie, and Kasey Leoni, at home;
three grandchildren, Kaylee Blue, Dayson and Deamund; her father and mother,
Roger and Patti Paige, Hurley; brother, Roger (Kathy) Paige Jr., Murietta,
Calif.; sister, Lea (Jay) Kangas, Ironwood Township; mother-in-law, Delores
Leoni, Hurley; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Harold and Nancy Gehrke, Montreal,
Dennis and Amy Leoni and Joe and Kay Leoni, all of Gile, and Charlotte Ware and
Susan and Bill Miller, all of Milwaukee; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews
and cousins; her faithful cat "Patches"; and a host of friends and
co-workers. A Mass of
Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's
Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Frank Kordek O.F.M.,
celebrant. Rite of Committal will be held at the church,
with luncheon to follow in the parish hall. Cremation will take place. Inurnment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery,
Hurley. Relatives and friends may call at the church
from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Pallbearers will be Dennis and Joe Leoni,
August Nasi and Gerald Nasi Jr., Harold Gehrke, and Dick DeZur. To view Cathy's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
Ave. No., Hurley, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, in her home, surrounded by her
loving family, following a courageous battle with brain cancer. The former Cathy Paige was born Sept. 25,
1959, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of Roger and Patti (Conhartoski) Paige. She
attended school in Kenosha and St. Mary's Grade School in Hurley, and graduated
from J.E. Murphy High School in 1977. She then attended the nursing program at
Gogebic Community College and became a licensed practical nurse. She was
employed at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation, and Assisted Living Community in
Ironwood for many years, and at Sky View Nursing Center in Hurley up until the
time of her death. Cathy was a member of St. Mary's Catholic
Church in Hurley, where she was very active with the youth group. She also
volunteered her time with the Hurley K-12 PTO, and was a big supporter of the
football program at Mesabi College in Virginia, Minn. She loved being with her
grandchildren, fishing, walking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. She was
always thoughtful of others before herself, and always had time to do a favor
for a friend. Her family was the most important thing to her. Cathy married Gary Leoni on Nov. 11, 1988, in
Hurley. He survives. Also surviving are a son, Gary Jr., at home;
two daughters, Lisa Leoni (Joel Sturkey), Menomonie, and Kasey Leoni, at home;
three grandchildren, Kaylee Blue, Dayson and Deamund; her father and mother,
Roger and Patti Paige, Hurley; brother, Roger (Kathy) Paige Jr., Murietta,
Calif.; sister, Lea (Jay) Kangas, Ironwood Township; mother-in-law, Delores
Leoni, Hurley; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Harold and Nancy Gehrke, Montreal,
Dennis and Amy Leoni and Joe and Kay Leoni, all of Gile, and Charlotte Ware and
Susan and Bill Miller, all of Milwaukee; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews
and cousins; her faithful cat "Patches"; and a host of friends and
co-workers. A Mass of
Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's
Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Frank Kordek O.F.M.,
celebrant. Rite of Committal will be held at the church,
with luncheon to follow in the parish hall. Cremation will take place. Inurnment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery,
Hurley. Relatives and friends may call at the church
from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Pallbearers will be Dennis and Joe Leoni,
August Nasi and Gerald Nasi Jr., Harold Gehrke, and Dick DeZur. To view Cathy's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.