Johanna (Gross) Leonard

Early Friday morning on July 29, 2022, one month shy of her 86th birthday, our beloved mother, Johanna Leonard, succumbed to sudden illness, passing away while visiting Puerto Rico to attend the national convention of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Wife of the late Ernest P. Leonard, Sr., and eldest sister to George Gross, Rosella (Josef) Zettelmayer, Carmela (Ronald/deceased) Weber, the late Phillip (Joann/deceased) Gross, and Annette (Robert) Schad.  Johanna is survived by eight of her ten children,  Ernest Leonard, Jr., Johanna (Bruce) Morrison, Francis (Shania) Leonard, Alexander (Carol) Leonard, Matthew (Lori) Leonard, Margaret (Andy) Kratz, Christian Leonard, Angela Gill, as well as her fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and was preceded in death by her two daughters, Frances and Celeste Leonard.

Faith, family, and friends were most important to Johanna throughout her life.  Serving as Eucharistic Minister, choir member, and cantor of daily mass at St. Anthony's chapel in Troy Hill, she was known and loved by many parishioners.  Volunteering her time and talents year after year, Johanna spearheaded the nut-roll making at Christmastime and the fish-fry dinners during Lent, fully enjoying life in the community which she helped to create.   She was a member of 40 Days for Life and the Catholic War Veterans' Auxiliary, volunteered with a missionary team to paint an orphanage in Jamaica (2017), and traveled to Rome to sing with her church choir at the Vatican.  Johanna was an active member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas organization for over sixty-years, serving as Regent of Court Allegheny for several terms.  As well as attending numerous state and national conventions, she supported countless fundraising and charitable events, coordinating card party luncheons and raffles, editing the group's monthly newsletter, and organizing the annual Chorale show in which she also sang.

Johanna distinguished herself through her many years of devotion to her faith, receiving the Manifesting the Kingdom Award from the Diocese of Pittsburgh in May of 2015 for her lifelong commitment and exemplary service to the Catholic Church.

Up until her retirement last August, Johanna worked a job she enjoyed as receptionist and office facilitator at burkeMichael+, a workspace design firm on Pittsburgh's Northside where she lived.  Though she was a fine cook and her pies and cookies were legendary, we fondly remember her also relaxing on occasion to enjoy the eggplant parmesan and tiramisu from Olive Garden restaurant.  Revered by her family and friends, Johanna lived a full life and will be greatly missed.

Viewings will be held at Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, Inc., 3552 California Avenue at Davis Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA   15212 on Thursday, August 11th, from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm.  The Catholic Daughters will pray the rosary with at 3:00 pm, and again a half-hour before the funeral mass. The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, August 12th at 10:00 am, in Christ Our Savior Parish, Saint Peter Church, at 720 Arch Street, Pittsburgh, PA   15212.  Interment to follow in Saint Mary's Cemetery, 4000 Mount Troy Road, Pittsburgh, PA   15214.