With the family she treasured at her side, Leona Lehman went home to the Lord on July 13, 2020 at the age of 89. 

Leona was born on April 27, 1931 to Leo and Frances Mammoser and raised in Chicago.  She attended grade school at her home parish of St. Ferdinand, and after graduating from Notre Dame high school she attended DePaul University Secretarial school and Wright Junior college.  Leona met her husband Marvin at Victor Adding Machine where they both worked.  They fell in love and married on July 19, 1958.  They set up home in Glenview, a suburb of Chicago, and had their first four children.  Marvin’s job promotion transferred them to Dallas in 1964 where they built a home near St. Rita parish and had five more babies, for a total of nine children.  When Leona would tell Marvin she was pregnant with another child, his comment was always “That’s good – you make such beautiful babies.”

Their children attended St. Rita grade school, followed by high school at Ursuline Academy and Jesuit College Prep, and all earned college degrees.  Leona and Marvin were active members of St. Rita Catholic Church for many years and also joined the Community of God’s Delight where they grew significantly in faith, personal relationship with Jesus, and life in the Spirit.

Leona was a wonderful homemaker, skillfully meeting her family’s needs on a tight budget.  She spent much time in her kitchen preparing meals and prioritized family dinners shared together daily.  She was a gifted seamstress, sewing countless outfits for her daughters, even recreating prom dresses that her daughters saw and admired in department stores.  She devoted herself to daily prayer for her family, and her children found security knowing they could come to her with every concern, trusting her to pray and give them wisdom.  Leona was also a faithful friend and endeared by all who knew her.  She lived each day in the service of others, continuously interceding for their needs. 

In 1985 after 27 years of marriage, Leona lost Marvin suddenly to a massive heart attack. Though devastated by his loss, her faith sustained her as she was surrounded by the love, support and prayer of her devoted family, faith-filled friends, and church community.  Leona told her children on the Christmas eve following Marvin’s death “I never realized until now that the most special gift your father ever gave me was all of you.”

Leona was passionately committed to the pro-life movement and actively prayed on location at abortion clinics.  She blessed many through her gift of hospitality and joyfully hosted parties and events in honor of others. She opened her home to many young women who lived with her for a season in the spare bedrooms added by Marvin.  Perhaps her greatest joy was the time she spent enjoying and caring for her grandchildren, both near and far.  Leona was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, known especially for her infectious smile, her joyful spirit, and her servant heart.

Leona will be lovingly remembered by her nine children: Francine, Joe, Lynn, John (Gail), Mary, Tim (Angel), Marty (Kim), Peggy (Jim), and Jenny (Kurt); twenty-one grandchildren: Matt, Chelsea (Brian), Will, Christina (Troy), Mickie, Blaine, Kolbe, Clare, Connor, Jack, Ben, Aidan, Ashley, Lindsey, Ethan, Emma, Gabriel, Jacob, Grace, Caroline, and Abby; one great-grandchild: Evelyn; and sister Dorothy (Frank) Bartolone. Leona was preceded in death by her husband Marvin, and her brother Jim Mammoser.

A Rosary in memory of Leona was held on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 6:30pm at Calvary Hill Funeral Home.  Her private Funeral took place on Monday, July 20, 2020 at 9:30am at St. Ann Catholic Parish and was broadcast live for virtual attendance.

Many people have also asked how they can watch a recorded version of Leona’s funeral, including the slideshow of photos shown before the Mass, and the video of friends and relatives sharing that followed the Mass.

We have made these videos and a few others available through a YouTube channel called “Leona Lehman Celebration of Life.” To watch these videos, CLICK HERE.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the Catholic Pro-Life Community of Dallas in Leona’s name.  https://www.prolifedallas.org/donate