Mrs. Mary Ann (Fontaine) Leo

Mrs. Mary Ann (Fontaine) Leo, age 91, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side in Watertown, MA on Monday, September 12, 2016. Mary was born in Utica on July 26, 1925, the daughter of the late Salvatore and Providence (Coletti) Fontaine. Raised and educated locally, she was a graduate of T.R. Proctor High School/Class of 1943. On July 19, 1952 Mary wed prominent local businessman Liberty Leo, co-owner of Progressive Formals, with whom she shared over 55 years of marriage prior to his passing on May 4, 2007. A loving wife and mother, Mary was deeply revered by her husband and children and was an inspiration to family and friends. A kind and gentle spirit, she performed simple acts of kindness for those she encountered. She was soft-spoken but strong, consistently giving, but not self-seeking. Mary was known for her delicious Italian cooking, particularly her meatballs, eggplant parmigiana, homemade rolls, pizza, and her cookies that always seemed to appear when a guest arrived to celebrate a special occasion or holiday! Mary was also a talented seamstress who created everything from tablecloths to prom gowns to incredible Halloween costumes. She could also knit and crochet wonderful afghans, slippers, and hats. She was always trying out her creative talents with new handicrafts. All who were lucky enough to have known her have a memorable article she created for them with love. This past year she knitted and donated dozens of hats and receiving blankets to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at a Boston hospital. Over the years, she also enjoyed dancing, tobogganing down the Parkway slopes, playing tennis, ice skating, reading biographies, and attending Broadway shows. Mary was a longtime member of the Daughters of Columbus, the former East Side Senior Center, the Italian Heritage Club of the Mohawk Valley, the Saints Cosmo and Damiano Society Chapel, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. She devotedly attended Saint Mary of Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Parish. Mary is survived by her daughters, Linda Grant and her husband Alan, and Lorraine Leo and her husband Tony Palermino; as well as her sons, Cosmo Leo and his wife Marilyn; Stephen Leo and his wife Maureen, all of the Boston area; and son, Gerald Leo of NYC; and her nine grandchildren, Maura Leo (Houston, TX), Thomas Leo (Quincy, MA), Jennifer Grant (Durham, NC), Andrew Grant (Watertown, MA), Christopher Leo Palermino (NYC), and Brendan, Ryan, Connor, and Claire Leo of Acton, MA. She also leaves her many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, her two sisters-in-law, Delores Fontaine, and Marion Fontaine who were close to her heart, and her godchildren Gloria Jean Fabbio, Annette Martellotto, Brian Fontaine, and Christine Pavia. As well as their cousins, The Messas, The Marttellottos, The Abbanats, The Swiggums/Colettis, The Isgros, The Camesanos, Rose Gamello and Mary Gianotti. She also leaves her many cherished friends including Lucielle Dzwonczyk and Alice White. She was predeceased by her infant sister, Santina Fontaine; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Lucy Fontaine, Mario and Monica Fontaine, Albert and Shirley Fontaine, Salvatore “Steve” Fontaine, and Gerald Fontaine. She was also close to her husband’s four siblings and spouses, Jenny and Victor Falco, Grace Miccoli, Samuel and Lucy Leo, and Angie and Robert Nicholson, as well as his cousins from the Martellotto and Messa families. The family would like to thank all those who enabled Mary to maintain her independence in her home in New Hartford prior to her move to Boston in 2014, including Ronald and Josette Fontaine, David, and Brian Fontaine, Colette Connolly, Carla Fontaine Kloster, Debbie Fontaine, Susan Martellotto-Januszewski, and Behr’s Homecare. Thanks also to the staff at The Residence at Watertown Square, Compassionate Care Hospice, and the caregivers at HouseWorks, especially Aisha, Betty, Cecilia, Dianne, and Gifty for all of their wonderful care over these past months. Visitation will be held Thursday from 5:00-7:00 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South Street, corner of Hammond Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the MVCC Foundation. Please include in the comment line the following: c/o Liberty & Mary Leo Memorial Scholarship; envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Online donations may be made at www.youcaring.com/leomemorialscholarship. Mary’s funeral service and Celebration of Life will commence on Friday morning at 9:00 from the funeral home and at 10:00 at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Parish where her Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Rev. Abe Esper. Committal services and entombment in Calvary Cemetery.

Mrs. Mary Ann (Fontaine) Leo

July 26, 1925 - September 12, 2016