Arizona Obituary Archive

Search      Post Obituary


Theresa R. (Tess) Leo

Posted 2018-04-02 by Judy Wight Branson
The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona
Saturday, March 31, 2018, page 8a

At the young age of 93, Theresa (Tess) R. Leo earned her heavenly
wings on Monday, March 26, 2018.

Born in New Haven, CT, Tess was the youngest of Bernard A. and Anna
E. Andersen-Wirkus’ five children. After graduation from Hillhouse
High School, Tess worked as a secretary and a window display
designer for retail stores.

Tess was married by her uncle, Rev. William Wirkus, to her life-long
sweetheart and decorated WWII veteran, William J. Leo Sr., in Saint
Boniface Church in New Haven, CT, in 1946. They lovingly spent 56
years together!

With a long career as the “best” homemaker in West Haven, CT, Tess
prepared great Italian food and often found extended family and
friends at her dinner table on Wednesdays, which was “Prince
Spaghetti Day.”

Later, Tess embarked on a huge milestone with a move to Prescott,
AZ, in 2010 to be near family members. With her piercing blue eyes
and beautiful white hair, Tess quickly made friends in her new
surroundings and was a voracious reader and puzzle enthusiast.

Tess is survived by 8 of her 9 children: Barbara (Carl) Martens,
Curt (Lisa) Leo, Donna (Dean) Warner, Susan (Paul) Eden,
William/Will (Nicki) Leo Jr., Beth (Mike) Kumjian, Alan (Marie) Leo,
and Glen (Lisa) Leo. She also has five grandchildren: Matthew,
Nicole, Kaitlyn, Cassidy, and Dominic; and 1 great-grandson, Jayden.

Tess was preceded in death by her husband, William J. Leo Sr., in
Dec. 2002; and her son, Robert B. Leo, in Jan. 2006.

Special thanks to outstanding staff at Highgate Senior Living,
Rolling Hills Manor, and Kindred Hospice for their professionalism,
kindness and genuine concern for Tess and her family members

A Mass celebrating the life of Theresa (Tess) R. Leo will be
conducted on Sat., April 7, 2018, at 10 a.m., at St. Paul’s Catholic
Church in West Haven, CT, followed by internment in St. Lawrence
Cemetery.

Local arrangements have been entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary
in Prescott, AZ. Please visit www.heritagemortuary.com to sign Tess’
online guestbook.

Information provided by survivors.




Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.

Questions About This Project?