Avon Obituary: Joseph Leyland, 86

Joseph J. Leyland, 86, of Avon, husband of Joyce (Price) Leyland, died Thursday, June 29, 2017.

Born in Butler, PA, son of the late Joseph and Agnes (Slater) Leyland, he was raised there and served in the US Air Force during the Korean War. After the war, he received his BA from Penn State and began his career in insurance. He joined the Aetna Insurance Co in the Property and Casualty area in 1965, then joining the Royal Insurance Company in 1989 until his retirement.

Joe’s playful approach to life served as a model for all who knew him. He had two basic philosophies, “Because I said so” and “I’ll be the judge of that,” which lead to a delightful give-and-take at the dinner table. Perhaps most important to Joe was educating his four children on careless table manners, superfluous car maintenance, and the hedonism of Band aids when “all it needs is a little air.”

He was a Little League baseball coach and CYO basketball coach in East Hartford for many years. An accomplished musician, he played the trombone in the Charlotte, NC City Orchestra and sang with the Simsbury Intonations. Indeed, his unique multi-octave stylings kept the audience enthralled.

Besides his adoring wife Joyce of 59 years; he leaves his children Andrew Leyland (Patty) of Colchester, Nanette Peterson (Craig) of Gladstone, NJ, Laura Leyland and Benjamin Leyland (Jennifer) all of West Hartford; seven grandchildren - Rachel, Kate, Emily, Hannah, Lily, Charlotte, and Maxwell; two greatgrandchildren Nora and Ronan; two brothers Harry of Butler, PA and Victor of Trenton, NJ; a sister Margaret Stehney of Jeannette, PA; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings Loretta, John, and Dolores.

Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial, Thursday, July 6, 2017, 10 am directly at the Church of Saint Ann, 289 Arch Road, Avon. A memorial reception will be held at the Simsbury Inn following the service at St. Ann. Burial will be held at the CT State Veterans Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Contributions in lieu of flowers, may be sent to LLS Light the Night Walk, Team Emmylou’s Fund Raising page at the following address http://bit.ly/2t5BPWR.

The Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center of Avon is caring for the arrangements. For directions or condolences please visit www. Carmonfuneralhome.com.