Obituary for Barbara Anne McDonald (Leonard)
Barbara Anne McDonald died peacefully on Sunday, May 1st and was blessed to have her entire loving family by her side. Barbara Anne was 77.
Born in South Philadelphia on September 24, 1944 to Genevieve (McWilliams) and Thomas Leonard. Barbara Anne was raised in South Philadelphia and was a 1962 graduate of Saint Maria Goretti. While in high school, Barbara Anne worked at Whitman’s Candies in Center City, loving the hustle and bustle, window shopping on her breaks and occasionally meeting her Aunt Marie for lunch.
Barbara Anne and Joe began dating on October 2, 1959 and have been together ever since. Barbara Anne and Joe moved from Philadelphia to New Castle, Delaware in 1972. They joined Our Lady of Fatima and were very active members in the parish fund raisers. Working tirelessly at the Fatima Christmas Bazaar and June Fair brought on her entrepreneurial spirit. Barbara Anne, along with Joe started many family businesses including Maids For You, JJ’s Fried Chicken and Brighid’s Fresh Baked Classics. Her most important and rewarding job though, was being a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Barbara Anne dedicated her entire life to her family, raising her children Kelly and Joe and her grandchildren, Brighid, Eric and Colleen. A gentle, warm and thoughtful person, Barbara Anne radiated love to all those around her. Barbara Anne is and always will be the heartbeat of her family. Her greatest joys were family gatherings, summers at the Jersey Shore,and all activities involving her grandchildren.
Barbara Anne was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Jean, her brother, Tom and her sister, Maureen.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Joe, her daughter, Kelly of Wilmington, her son, Joe of Lewes and her grandchildren, Brighid, Eric and Colleen plus many special friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A public viewing will be held on Monday, May 9th from 6:00-8:00 pm at St. Edmond’s Academy, 2120 Veale Road, Wilmington DE. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 10th at 11:00 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary, 4701 Weldin Road, Wilmington, DE. Interment will be held at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, 1600 S. Sproul Rd, Springfield, PA.
A special thank you to Kim Ficorilli, Barbara Anne’s niece for all her love and support. Also a special thank you to Megan Smakulski-Money, the ICU nurse manager at Wilmington Hospital and to her entire team for treating Barbara Anne like family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara Anne’s name to St. Edmond’s Academy, 2120 Veale Road, Wilmington, DE 19810. For those who are not able to attend, please follow the live stream of Barbara Anne’s Mass at https://youtu.be/hLnty36Sujw
Born in South Philadelphia on September 24, 1944 to Genevieve (McWilliams) and Thomas Leonard. Barbara Anne was raised in South Philadelphia and was a 1962 graduate of Saint Maria Goretti. While in high school, Barbara Anne worked at Whitman’s Candies in Center City, loving the hustle and bustle, window shopping on her breaks and occasionally meeting her Aunt Marie for lunch.
Barbara Anne and Joe began dating on October 2, 1959 and have been together ever since. Barbara Anne and Joe moved from Philadelphia to New Castle, Delaware in 1972. They joined Our Lady of Fatima and were very active members in the parish fund raisers. Working tirelessly at the Fatima Christmas Bazaar and June Fair brought on her entrepreneurial spirit. Barbara Anne, along with Joe started many family businesses including Maids For You, JJ’s Fried Chicken and Brighid’s Fresh Baked Classics. Her most important and rewarding job though, was being a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Barbara Anne dedicated her entire life to her family, raising her children Kelly and Joe and her grandchildren, Brighid, Eric and Colleen. A gentle, warm and thoughtful person, Barbara Anne radiated love to all those around her. Barbara Anne is and always will be the heartbeat of her family. Her greatest joys were family gatherings, summers at the Jersey Shore,and all activities involving her grandchildren.
Barbara Anne was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Jean, her brother, Tom and her sister, Maureen.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Joe, her daughter, Kelly of Wilmington, her son, Joe of Lewes and her grandchildren, Brighid, Eric and Colleen plus many special friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A public viewing will be held on Monday, May 9th from 6:00-8:00 pm at St. Edmond’s Academy, 2120 Veale Road, Wilmington DE. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 10th at 11:00 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary, 4701 Weldin Road, Wilmington, DE. Interment will be held at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, 1600 S. Sproul Rd, Springfield, PA.
A special thank you to Kim Ficorilli, Barbara Anne’s niece for all her love and support. Also a special thank you to Megan Smakulski-Money, the ICU nurse manager at Wilmington Hospital and to her entire team for treating Barbara Anne like family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara Anne’s name to St. Edmond’s Academy, 2120 Veale Road, Wilmington, DE 19810. For those who are not able to attend, please follow the live stream of Barbara Anne’s Mass at https://youtu.be/hLnty36Sujw