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ANITA S. LEONARD

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48 entries

"To the Leonard Family, Please accept our deepest sympathy..."
- John Kuropchak
"Dear Ralph, We were so sorry to learn of Anita's..."
"With Anita's passing the world has lost a truly gifted and..."
- Pat MacHugh
"we're so sorry for your loss Mr. Leonard, your wife was a..."
- Hilda & Frank Geroux
" To the Leonard family, please accept my heartfelt..."
- Brenda Pyle

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OLD TOWN - Anita S. Leonard, 81, passed away peacefully May 10, 2012, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Aug. 31, 1930, in Stillwater, the daughter of Herbert E. and Amber (Warren) Sargent. Anita was a lifelong resident of Stillwater and Old Town, and graduated from Old Town High School in 1949 at the top of her class. She continued her education at Cornell University, where she was also a Pi Beta Phi sorority member, and graduated in 1953. She maintained affiliation with Cornell through her sorority chapter and many years as the Cornell University Alumni Representative for Admissions in Maine. While at Cornell she continued to build the most wonderful relationship of her life with her high school sweetheart, love of her life, West Pointer, and eventual husband, Ralph E. Leonard. Prior to her graduation from Cornell, she became a proud member of the "OAO" Society of West Point, "One And Only" for a West Point Cadet for four years, much to the grateful pleasure of Ralph. The two were married the summer after her graduation from Cornell and spent five years at various air bases abroad and in the U.S., where Ralph flew as an Air Force pilot and officer, and they began their family together. In 1957 they returned to Stillwater and Old Town to raise their family and begin their careers, and a lifelong commitment to their community, state, friends and family. Anita's community and charitable involvement was vast, heartfelt, and overly generous, including board or director positions with Maine Community Foundation, Old Town - Orono YMCA Heritage Club, Old Town Library League, University of Maine Foundation - she was an honorary University of Maine alumnus, Community Health and Counseling Center, the Air National Guard Wives Association and as corporator for Bangor Savings Bank. She loved her church and volunteered thousands of hours to the good work and causes of Stillwater Federated Church and Old Town United Methodist Church, and for decades served in multiple board capacities and as a repeat lay representative to United Methodist New England Conference. She beautifully sang in her church choir throughout her adult life alongside many dear friends/choir members. In addition to her churches, she also volunteered thousands of hours to Eastern Maine Medical Center Auxiliary, where her glowing contagious smile and wonderful personality brought joy and comfort to countless patients and visitors. Anita's compassion and commitment to her community were very evident in the formation of Acadia Hospital, Bangor, where she and her husband were driving forces in its development. Above all, Anita absolutely loved and cherished her family and enjoyed many beautiful summers at Cold Stream Pond with her husband, children and their spouses, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws and many, many friends, where every day was a treasure and reunion. Anita was predeceased by her parents, Herbert and Amber; and a son, Ralph Jr. "Rick." She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 59 years, Ralph E. Leonard; children, Lynda of Stillwater, Kerri Ellison and husband, Tom, and their children, Kaitlin, Patrick, Meaghan and Meredith, of Easton, Pa., Kent and wife, Lisa, and their children, Joseph, Jacob, Jaron, Jackson and Julianne, of Holden and Laurena Reichel and husband, Fred, and their children, Kent, Kristina and Melissa, of Hampden; her sisters, Virginia Gowen of Portsmouth, N.H., Calista Hannigan and husband, Earl, of Holden and Marvia Meagher and husband, Michael, of Hampden; brother, James Sargent of Jupiter, Fla., and Carmel; many loved nieces and nephews of three generations. The family gratefully acknowledges the wonderful care provided for Anita by the doctors, nurses and staff of Eastern Maine Medical Center. Relatives and friends are welcomed to call 4-7 p.m. Sunday, May 13, at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town. A celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, May 14, at Old Town United Methodist Church with Pastor Joan DeSanctis officiating. Graveside services will be afterward at Lawndale Cemetery. After the services the family invites relatives and friends for conversation and refreshments at Black Bear Inn, Orono. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may remember Anita through a charitable contribution of their choice or to one of Anita's special causes: Old Town United Methodist Church, Choir and Youth Services, 744 Stillwater Ave., Old Town, ME 04468; Palliative Care Services at Eastern Maine Medical Center or Acadia Hospital, both care of Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931 or visit www.healthcarecharities.org. Notes of condolence may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com.

Published in BDN Maine on May 12, 2012

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