Retired Former IBEW Local 1377 (Cleveland, OH) Officer Passes After 84 Active Years

01/20/2005
Katherine L. Leonardi

Services for Katherine L. (Cunningham) Leonardi, 84, of Chardon, a retired assembler, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Church of St. Mary, 401 North St., Chardon.
Katherine L. Leonardi
Services for Katherine L. (Cunningham) Leonardi, 84, of Chardon, a retired assembler, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Church of St. Mary, 401 North St., Chardon.
Mrs. Leonardi died Jan. 18, 2005, at Geauga Regional Hospital in Claridon Township.
Born Jan. 26, 1920, in Chicago, Ill., she lived in Mayfield Heights and Cape Coral, Fla., for 17 years before moving to the Chardon area in July 2004. She was formerly of Mayfield Village.
When living in Mayfield Village, she was a longtime member of St. Felicitas Catholic Church in Euclid. She was a member and union representative of Union Local 1377 IBEW, known as "a real fighter for the underdog." She was a past member of Euclid Vets Auxiliary, where she served as president numerous times. An avid boater and fisherman on Lake Erie and in Florida, she and her husband were members of a number of area yacht clubs, including the West Channel Yacht Club, Eastlake. Her fellow fishermen felt she was the best perch fisherman on Lake Erie.
In Florida, she was recognized by the City of Cape Coral for her sportsmanship in catching and releasing game fish. She and her husband loved the out of doors, having owned a motor home, which they drove to their camper.
Mrs. Leonardi was employed by the former Picker Xray in Highland Heights for 19 years, retiring in 1985.
Survivors are her husband, Max Leonardi, whom she married in Cleveland on April 28, 1943; sons, James (Joyce) Leonardi of Chardon, Martin (Elaine) Leonardi of Lyndhurst, Dante (Dianne) Leonardi of Wickliffe and Max Leonardi of Mayfield Heights; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her twin sister, Elizabeth Muehle of Highland Heights; and daughter-in-law, Linda Leonardi McGreevy of Euclid.
She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Leonardi; parents, Martin and Elizabeth (Holzhausen) Cunningham; daughter-in-law, Paulette Leonardi; one sister; and two brothers.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St. (on St. Rt. 44, 500 feet south of Rt. 6/Chardon Square), Chardon. The Rev. Gregory Schaut of the Church of St. Mary will officiate at services. Burial will be at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon Township.
Information and online condolences at www.burrservice.com