Maria G. "Frances" Leitza, 99, of 219 Lake Drive, Hurley, Wis., died Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, in Ironwood.      She was born March 9, 1910, in Brooklyn, New York, daughter of the late Antonio and Dorothea (Barbera) Passanante, and attended school in Sicily. She returned to the United States in 1928 and resided in Chicago until moving to Hurley  following her marriage to Domenic Leitza on April 27, 1941.       Frances was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley and it's Council of Catholic Women. She enjoyed crocheting and was a wonderful cook. She especially enjoyed attending beagle club events with her husband Domenic, who was widely known for raising and showing champion beagles.      Surviving are her husband, Domenic, of 68 years; two sons, Peter (Bonita), Hatley, Wis., and Anthony (Kathy), Wausau, Wis.; a daughter, Julianne Mieloszyk, Ironwood; nine grandchildren, Scott, Paul (Daria), and Anthony (Sherry) Leitza, Heidi (Timothy) Lescun, Amanda (Bradley) Brandt, Russell, Nick (Ruth), and William (Barbara) Mieloszyk, and Terri (Joe) Knaack; 17 great-grandchildren, Victoria, Megan, Lilliana, Sara, Natalie, Zachary, Kaylee, Derrick, Maria, John, Andrew, Nicholas, Amber, Ryan, Christina, Domanic and Shannon; three great-great-grandchildren, Joel, Kaleb and Taylor; two brothers, Peter (Vita) Passanante, Chicago, and Isadoro Passanante, Sicily; two sisters, Mary Marretta, Tacoma, Wash., and Katharine Passanante, Sicily; sisters-in-law, Hildegard Leitza, Hurley, and Cecelia Leitza, Jessup, Penn.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.      Besides her parents, Frances was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Joseph Passanante.      A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant.      Rite of Committal will take place at the church, with luncheon to follow in the parish hall.      Spring burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley.      Relatives and friends may call at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday.      Pallbearers will be Frances's grandsons, to include Paul, Scott and Anthony Leitza, William and Nicholas Mieloszyk, and Joe Knaack.      To view Frances's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.