Mary Leoni

Mary (Arena) Leoni Services: Funeral Mass will be 10 a. m. Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. Charles Flynn as celebrant. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 4 to 7 p. m. at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with recitation of the rosary at 6:30pm, and one hour prior to the mass at church on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Gilbert Cemetery. Mary Leoni, 92, of Gilbert died Friday, June 5, 2015 in the Essentia/ Virginia Convalescent Care Center. She was born November 3, 1922 in Hibbing, MN to Rocco and Angela (Labata) Arena. She lived her early toddler life in Hibbing and then moved with her family to Pellaro, Italy at 5 years old. She lived her childhood and early adulthood in Pellaro near Reggio Calabria in southern Italy, where she completed her education through the eighth grade and entered specialized training as a seamstress through local convent. Upon completion of WWII her parents decided to return to Hibbing, MN where she returned as a young woman. She was able to speak Italian fluently and had a wonderful understanding of its foods and culture. Upon her return to America with her parents, she was introduced to Frank J. Leoni of Gilbert, MN in March 1949 through the Italian American Association. They married on June 30, 1949. They raised 9 children in their Gilbert residence. She was a loving mother and wife and later became a member of the Moe-Indihar American Legion Axillary. She was also a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and its Council of Catholic Women. Other hobbies and activities included sewing, cooking, and caring for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Survivors include her children, Mary Angela and her children Santino and Giovan Jenkins; Tony Leoni and his children, Jesse, Marlo, and Angie; children of Carmela (Johnson), Shannon, Kristie, Corina; Rocco (Kathy) his children Rebecca and Carmella; John; David (Myong); Rosie (Dennis) Sandstrom and their children Eric, Lora, and Brian; and Michael Leoni. Sisters-in-law include Rosemary Fruehling of Minnetonka, Josephine (Pepa) Arena of Hibbing, and Dominica/Mimma (Basarich/Arena) of Concord, California; nieces/nephews-Angela, Nancy, Janie, Terry, Todd, Joe, Shirley, and great-grandchildren to include Kody, Paige, Sofia, Karson, Wyatt, Samiya, Mia, and Giovanna. She was preceded in death by her parents, Angela and Rocco Arena; husband, Frank; brothers, Vincent and Cosimo; and daughters Carmela and Theresa.