Obituaries

Leona Steffeck passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 12 from Alzheimer's disease at the age of 82.

Leona was born in Greeley, Nebraska on April 20, 1930 to Annie Catherine McCoy and William Gray. After graduating from St. Mary's Cathedral High School in Grand Island, Leona worked as a secretary for the War Department in Washington, D.C. She remembered fondly a trip to New York City during this time.

Leona married Norman J. Steffeck on December 27, 1952 and raised five children in Fremont, California. A loving homemaker and active community member, Leona was a founding member of St. Leonard?s Catholic Church in Fremont where she served as a Eucharist Minister and participated in the church?s women?s group. Once her children became more independent, Leona returned to the workforce and was employed by the Fremont School District as a Cafeteria Worker and sold AVON on the side.

Leona is survived by her children Craig, Chuck (Betty), and Mark Steffeck, Barbara (Frank) Biehl, and Janine (Mike) Matheson; grandchildren David (Lisa), Laura, Michael, and Ryan Steffeck, Caitlin (Ryan) Grant, Kristen (Benoit) Belley, Brian, and Kevin Biehl; her brother Gerald Gray, and more than thirty nieces and nephews. Her husband, Norman, passed away in 1990, and she was predeceased by her six older brothers and sisters.

The family expresses their gratitude to Leona's many caregivers, but especially Jimmy Agustin and Pilar Hernandez, and neighbor Vicki Gilbertson.

Family and friends are invited to attend her viewing at Fremont Chapel of the Roses (1940 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536) on Sunday, March 17th from 1:00-5:00pm, with a service at 2:00pm. The requiem mass will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (40382 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538) on Monday, March 18th at 11:00am. A reception will follow the mass with directions provided at the church. She will be laid to rest at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, CA.

Leona was very proud of her Irish heritage so her family asks those attending her funeral services to wear green or a shamrock in her honor.