Newington Obituary: Margaret Leonard, 79

Margaret “Peggy” (Nagle) Leonard, of Newington, passed away Monday April 11, 2016 at home.

She was born in Hartford on April 20, 1936, the eldest daughter of the late William L. and Catherine (Carlson) Nagle. Peggy was a graduate of Mount St. Joseph Academy, West Hartford, and St. Joseph College, receiving her B.S. degree in Nursing in 1958. She obtained her certificate in Public Health Nursing from The University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN in 1970.

Peggy married 1st Lt. John A. Leonard, Jr. on October 3, 1958, moving to Fort Dix, NJ. She was listed in the 1971 edition of Outstanding Young Women of America. In 1972, Mrs. Leonard joined the VA Hospital and Medical Center, Newington, CT as their first Community Health Nurse Coordinator. In 25 years of employment, she received many nursing awards, including the Nursing Excellence Award by the Veterans Administration for her extraordinary compassion for her patients and their families.

Peggy leaves her beloved daughter, Mary Alison Colli, her husband Paul D. Colli and her very special granddaughter, Kathryn “Katie” Colli, all of Wethersfield. She also leaves her two sisters and caregivers, Maureen C. Nagle of Newington, with whom she shared her home and Joan N. Salvatore of Wethersfield, as well as her nephew Joseph Salvatore, Jr. and his wife Sandra of Newington, her nieces Jeannine Salvatore of Wethersfield, Jennifer Healy and her husband Kevin of Wethersfield and Jill Roy and her husband Nathan of Cromwell. She also leaves four great nephews and one great niece. Peggy was predeceased by her brother in law Joseph Salvatore, Sr.

She will be remembered by her family and friends as a true lady who enjoyed time in Florida, weekend daytrips and lunches with Mary Alison and Katie, and dinners at Carbone’s. She was generous by nature and extremely thoughtful, always remembering the little things as well as special occasions.

Friends may call Thursday April 14, 2016 from 4-7 pm at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Peggy’s life will be held Friday April 15, 2016 at 10:00am in St. Mary Church, 626 Willard Ave., Newington. All attendees are asked to go directly to church. Burial will follow in Village Cemetery, Marsh St. Wethersfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary Church, 626 Willard Ave., Newington, CT 06111 or the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

To extend online condolences, or for directions, please visit Farleysullivan.com.