Marjorie June Leahy

Marjorie June Doyle Leahy, 93, surrounded by her loving husband and family members, slipped peacefully out of this earthly realm and entered heaven on June 7, 2014. Marjorie is the mother of 10 children, grandmother to 22, and great-grandmother to 22. That's a lot of diapers changed, a lot of laundry washed, and a lot of meals at a table for twelve that would make catering the Last Supper seem easy by comparison. From foreign exchange students to the last-second, ""Mom, can my friend stay for dinner?"" guest, all were welcomed at her table, and all left well-fed. Marge, Margie, June, Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma: she answered to all of those names with a smile that lit up the room, with abundant grace, with a wry humor, keen intelligence, loving demeanor, humility and gratitude. As the family matriarch, she was the perfect counterpoint and complement to her logical, left-brained, physician husband. Though she was too humble to admit it, she provided the right-brain balance to the family, whether expressed in her love of dance and music, or love of art ranging from Grandma Moses to hand-cut Tiffin crystal. She was the go-to helper for many, many homework assignments in creative writing and poetry, arts in any media - even cleverly using her chewing gum as a last-second repair of a science project. She taught her family - by example - to respect and to cherish all of God's creatures, whether they were frogs and turtles and tadpoles (snakes, however, were not welcome indoors), fledgling birds fallen from the nest, or her canine companions with whom she also shared her love. Marjorie was born in Danville, IL, in 1921, to Joseph and Grace (Tiffee) Doyle. She was raised through the years of the Great Depression, and had begun a career in nursing in Chicago, IL, when she met and instantly fell in-love with her soon-to-be devoted and loving husband, Dr. Richard Leahy - with whom she shared a 70th wedding anniversary this past December. Starting in the WWII years as the wife of a Navy doctor, she gave up her nursing career to become a full-time mother, child psychologist, triage nurse, educator, counselor, arbitrator, chef, laundress, seamstress, reader (Martin's Mice and the Peevish Penguin books worn thin), taxi driver, liaison, and secretary. Marjorie, dutifully following Richard's Navy and civilian career path, resided in Los Angeles, CA, Brazil, IN, Toledo, OH, and lived for 30 years in Tiffin, OH - until Richard's retirement from medical practice. There was a brief stint in a remote hospital in Malawi, Africa, with Richard, trying to assist the less fortunate, followed by a move to Sun City West AZ, and finally to Highlands Ranch, CO. She cherished her visits to Ireland, and her summer days at Clear Lake in Indiana. Once her own children were raised, and grandchildren spread across the US, Marjorie volunteered at daycare centers in Tiffin, OH and Surprise, AZ - offering her love, warmth, and caring to even more children. Marjorie's life was a powerful example of unselfish service to others and unconditional love, and these exemplary traits are hallmarks of her legacy. She was a devout Catholic, and did her best to instill her ethical and moral values in her children - again, leading by example. Now, she's tap dancing with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, singing with Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, and John McCormack, and enveloped in God's loving embrace. Heaven got a good one, but back here on Earth, she will be sorely missed. Marjorie was preceded in death by her sister Virginia, and her brothers John and Thomas. She is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Richard Albert Leahy, her brother James ""Jimmy"" Doyle, and an amazing 75-member family whose names - included here - read like the ""litany of the saints"": Daughter, Kathleen (Leahy) & Donald Marquet, granddaughter Michele (Marquet) & Dr. Michael Hirsig and great-grandkids Donovan, Charlie and Izzy, granddaughter Megan (Marquet) & Brock Wortman and great-grandkids Maggie and Kathleen, grandson Kevin Marquet & Sheyla and great-grandkids Avery and Owen. ~ Son, Dr. Daniel Leahy & Kathy (Krupp) Leahy, granddaughter Amy (Leahy) & Steve Shutts and great-grandkids Connor, Colleen, and Cooper, grandson Craig Leahy & Lisa and great-grandkids Colin and Mary Cameron. ~ Son, Kevin Leahy & Mimi (Hwang), granddaughter Caitlin (Leahy) & John Jessen, grandson Brendan Leahy & Jaime and great-grandchild Kieran, grandson Sean Leahy. ~ Son, Patrick Leahy and granddaughters Brigid Leahy and Fiona Leahy. ~ Daughter, Sheila (Leahy) & David Lee, grandson Sean Lee & Kendra and great-grandkids Shannon, Casey, and Reilly, granddaughter Erin Lee and great-grandkids Madeline and Ella, granddaughter Megan (Lee) & Patrick Kovalik and great-grandchild Marin, granddaughter Mallory (Lee) & Kelly Payne and great-grandchild Nora. ~ Daughter, Teresa (Leahy) & Steve Donahoe, grandson Dr. Kevin Donahoe & Katie, and great-grandkids Liam and Olivia, granddaughter Kelly Donahoe. ~ Son, Dennis Leahy & Dr. Debra Cudnowski, granddaughter Basia Leahy. ~ Daughter, Maureen (Leahy) & Doug Mills, grandson Michael Mac Mills, grandson Patrick Mills & Bonnie, and grandson Steven Mills. ~ Daughter Bridget (Leahy) & Steve McNutt, grandson Colin Taylor, grandson Aidan McNutt. ~ Son, Brian Leahy. ~ Special mention of Dee & Steve Longanbaugh - friends so close as to be considered family. Marjorie said she thought of Dee as her ""sixth daughter."" Viewing will be Thursday, June 12, 2014, from 5-7 PM, followed by Recitation of the Rosary, beginning at 7 PM, both at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road (one block to the west of Holly), in Centennial, Colorado. Interment will be Friday, June 13, 2014, at 9:15 AM at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Area ""C"", 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard in Denver, Colorado. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in Marjorie's honor on Friday, June 13, 2014, 11:00 AM, at Vi at Highlands Ranch - Centennial Room, 2850 Classic Drive, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126. In lieu of flowers, family members have suggested donations to St. Jude's Hospital, a charity for the children that Marjorie so loved. Please share your memories of Marjorie by signing the guestbook below.