Obituaries 11-15-2011

Elaine Leach

Dance Instructor

Elaine M. (White) Leach of Harvest, Alabama, formerly of Revere and Cambridge, died on November 6 following a courageous battle with lung cancer. She was 67 years old.

She was the founder of “The Elegant Rounds Dance Group” and was a dance instructor for many years. She was also a member of OSHA Lifetime Learning Instructors at the University of Huntsville, AL.

She was the beloved wife of George C. Leach; devoted mother of Dawn M. Stone and her husband, Rob of Hollis, NH and Lori A. Lavoie of Lowell; cherished grandmother of Sage M. Stone, Daniel R. and Sophia M. Leach and is also lovingly survived by Curtis E. Leach and his wife, Iryna of Las Vegas, NV., Robert M. Leach and his wife, Teresa and Judith A. Smith and her husband, Sam all of Alabama, Michael P. and Michelle M. Breitbach and Jennifer M. Leach; dear sister of Margaret F. Kavanaugh and her husband, Timothy of Malden, Bernice A. “Bunny” Shuman and her husband, James of Medford, Marie L. White and her companion, James Lawless of Lynn and the late Maureen C. Leach. She is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

Services and burial were held privately. Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, Ma. 01701-9376. Arrangements were in the care of the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals of Revere.

Barbara Felicia DeLeo

Woman with Many Talents and Interests

Barbara Felicia DeLeo, January 27, 1939 to November 6, 2011, a resident of Lynn, formerly of Brooklyn, New York and Miami, Florida died peacefully at the Pilgrim Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Peabody surrounded by the love of her family.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, the eldest of two children of Michael R. and Marie B. DeLeo of Brooklyn, NY and Hoboken, NJ, she attended Saint Edmund’s and Saint Brendan’s Catholic schools in Brooklyn, NY. She studied ballet as young girl and ballroom dance at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. She danced at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and won trophies in dance competitions.

After high school, she earned a full scholarship toward college, which she forfeited in favor of marriage and starting a family. She married Raymond Michael Hamra, of Brooklyn, NY, and moved with him to Miami, FL, where they had four children.

There, she opened her own Personnel office on Brickell Avenue. She also began to study and collect antiques, thereby becoming a knowledgeable and busy antique dealer. She bought and sold antiques from home and had shops in Miami and New York City.

She was a Dr. Scholl’s foot model and a fashionable lover of all things beautiful with a keen and impeccable eye. She loved to embellish items with the fine art of beading, and made all the family Christmas stockings by hand, individually capturing each family member’s unique personality. She remained involved in antiques and style her whole life.

She found great fun and satisfaction in words and in writing. Intelligent, well-spoken and articulate, she was a prolific writer of letters, a champion Scrabble player and a New York Times crossword puzzle pro. A natural and generous giver, she also found great joy and contentment in collecting items to send her loved ones, earning her the nickname “Black-belt shopper,” from her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her brother, Michael DeLeo, Jr. and her four children, Gregory Raymond Hamra, Lorraine Marie Hamra Lee, Peter Michael Hamra, and Lili Michelle Hamra-Leach. She was the beloved grandmother of Aisha Hamra-Pinto, Autumn Hamra, Noah Hamra-Gonzalez, Justin Hamra, and Sherilyn Leach, as well as the beloved mother-in-Law to Judy Hamra, Ken Leach, and Leisha John.

Friendly, active, and outspoken, she touched many hearts and made an impression on everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for her intelligence and character, her wit and knowledge, and mostly for her desire to give generously to those she loved. She is greatly loved and will be missed dearly.

Local arrangements were entrusted to the Goodrich Funeral Home of Lynn. A memorial service will be held during Christmastime in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to UNICEF.

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