Obituary for Rita Lucy Leskoske
Rita Lucy Leskoske 8/9/2021
We lost our dear Aunt Rita but we know she is safe in her true love’s arms in Heaven.
Rita was born December 13, 1918 to Helen (Wolf) and Frederick Leskoske. She attended Assumption Academy and was employed by Porter-Cable and Rockwell Manufacturing.
Aunt Rita loved life and took many road trips with her good friends, Naomi and Dinny. She always enjoyed a party, especially the food. Though not much of a cook, she loved to eat and never seemed to gain an ounce! On her many trips to Maryland, she ordered crab cakes no matter what else was on the menu. They were her favorite and pineapple upside down cake for dessert.
She often said, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” We always told her the reason she lived so long was because she DID take care of herself. She loved to walk and told us she took miles-long walks with her Father when she was a little girl.
Aunt Rita lived on Spring St in the same house for 90 years. She moved to O’Brien Rd Senior Housing in 2009 and then to Menorah Park in 2016. We want to thank the entire staff at Menorah Park for all their loving care of our Aunt Rita.
In school, she met the love of her life, Henry (Hank) Hoppe. He had served in the US Navy and joined the US Army Air Forces right after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Hank was a Staff Sergeant. They got engaged right after Pearl Harbor. He was flying diversionary missions from southern England to Calais, France during the ramp up to D-Day in WWII. Hank’s plane was shot down on May 29, 1944 and he was shot by Nazis while parachuting into the English Channel. Hank is buried at Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.
Aunt Rita had many other dates but she always said there was no one like Hank. Our favorite story is the one of her dream. “You know I can’t see or hear too well anymore and I can’t walk either. But when I die, I know I will be able to see and hear clearly and walk and run again. As soon as I get to Heaven, I’m going to run right into Hank’s arms and never let him go.”
Aunt Rita took all of us on shopping trips downtown, out for lunches, for haircuts and to buy us new shoes for Easter and the start of school. We had sleepovers at her home. She was always there to listen and give advice if asked. She never said an unkind word to anyone and prayed for everyone all the time. That was another reason we told her she’d lived so long. She was our prayer link to the Lord. We will miss her dearly but remember how much she meant to us all.
While Aunt Rita lived at Menorah Park, a friend wrote this poem and gave it to her. It fits her to a T.
Rita
Rita smiles and the world lights up, makes you happy just to see her.
One hundred years of wisdom and faith have made her what she is today!
She is so genuine and so sincere,
Makes you want to jump for joy.
She’s bound to rise up with the saints wearing her wings and loving her God.
Liz Beehner
September 2019
In addition to her parents, Aunt Rita was predeceased by her brothers and sisters-in law, Edward and Kathleen (Lynn) Leskoske and Paul (Bob) and Erdine (Reschke) Leskoske; niece, Margaret (Richard) Alivero, nephew, Thomas Leskoske, nephew-in-law, Eric Hoffmann, grandnieces, Victoria Kathleen Alivero, Christine and Casey Leskoske, great-grand nephew, Evan Michael Kelley and great grand-niece, Emma Abigail Leskoske as well as by her dear friends, Naomi Seibert and Mary (Dinny) Kalska.
Aunt Rita is survived by her nieces and nephews; Kathleen (Edward) Kelley, James Leskoske (Marge Kantak), Mary (Marty) Sherman, Joseph (Kathy) Leskoske, Susan (Kulha) Leskoske, John (Donna) Leskoske. Patricia (F. James) Kelley, Michael Leskoske, Eileen (John) Bok and Mark (Joann) Leskoske.
Grand nieces and nephews; John Kelley (Gina Harrington), Karen (Ted) Macri, Teresa (Ken) Williams, James (Melissa) Kelley, Brian (Joy) Kelley, Linda West, Susan (Bob) Cottet, Captain Erica Hoffmann (USN), Alicia Alivero (Tim Spence), Monica (Tony) Bova, Elaine (Joe) McBride, Matthew (Kelly) Leskoske, Sarah (Sean) Penney, Ellen (Everett) Townley, and David (Amberly) Kelley, Kathleen Bok, Megan Bok, Joseph Leskoske and Thomas Leskoske.
Great-grand nieces and nephews; David and Catherine Macri, Caitlin Williams (Lorne Mauldin), Emily Williams (Sam Delosh), Braxton and Landon Kelley, Isabella and Theo Kelley, Carolyn Olmsted (Alex Schenk), J.J. West, Victoria Alivero, Jack Bova, Kathleen McBride, Lorelai Leskoske, Shenique Lewis, Dominic, Anthony and Michael Penney, Jackson, Branson and Dawson Kelley and Meagan Harrington (Tyler Grrevelding).
Great-great grand nieces and nephews; Laura and Maya Olmsted, Bryson Estrada and Asher Harrington, her first cousin, Joan Leskoske, several more distant cousins and her dear friends, Paul Kalska and Karen Mattice.
Visitation will be Wednesday, August 11, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Keegan-Osbelt-Knight Funeral Home, Inc., 900 N. Salina Street, Syracuse. We ask that you wear a mask in the funeral home if you are not vaccinated.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Assumption Church, 812 N. Salina Street, Syracuse. Please note, masks will be required in the church.
The Rite of Committal and Burial will be immediately following in Assumption Cemetery.
Contributions in Aunt Rita’s memory may be made to Assumption Church, 812 N. Salina St, Syracuse NY 13208
We lost our dear Aunt Rita but we know she is safe in her true love’s arms in Heaven.
Rita was born December 13, 1918 to Helen (Wolf) and Frederick Leskoske. She attended Assumption Academy and was employed by Porter-Cable and Rockwell Manufacturing.
Aunt Rita loved life and took many road trips with her good friends, Naomi and Dinny. She always enjoyed a party, especially the food. Though not much of a cook, she loved to eat and never seemed to gain an ounce! On her many trips to Maryland, she ordered crab cakes no matter what else was on the menu. They were her favorite and pineapple upside down cake for dessert.
She often said, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” We always told her the reason she lived so long was because she DID take care of herself. She loved to walk and told us she took miles-long walks with her Father when she was a little girl.
Aunt Rita lived on Spring St in the same house for 90 years. She moved to O’Brien Rd Senior Housing in 2009 and then to Menorah Park in 2016. We want to thank the entire staff at Menorah Park for all their loving care of our Aunt Rita.
In school, she met the love of her life, Henry (Hank) Hoppe. He had served in the US Navy and joined the US Army Air Forces right after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Hank was a Staff Sergeant. They got engaged right after Pearl Harbor. He was flying diversionary missions from southern England to Calais, France during the ramp up to D-Day in WWII. Hank’s plane was shot down on May 29, 1944 and he was shot by Nazis while parachuting into the English Channel. Hank is buried at Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.
Aunt Rita had many other dates but she always said there was no one like Hank. Our favorite story is the one of her dream. “You know I can’t see or hear too well anymore and I can’t walk either. But when I die, I know I will be able to see and hear clearly and walk and run again. As soon as I get to Heaven, I’m going to run right into Hank’s arms and never let him go.”
Aunt Rita took all of us on shopping trips downtown, out for lunches, for haircuts and to buy us new shoes for Easter and the start of school. We had sleepovers at her home. She was always there to listen and give advice if asked. She never said an unkind word to anyone and prayed for everyone all the time. That was another reason we told her she’d lived so long. She was our prayer link to the Lord. We will miss her dearly but remember how much she meant to us all.
While Aunt Rita lived at Menorah Park, a friend wrote this poem and gave it to her. It fits her to a T.
Rita
Rita smiles and the world lights up, makes you happy just to see her.
One hundred years of wisdom and faith have made her what she is today!
She is so genuine and so sincere,
Makes you want to jump for joy.
She’s bound to rise up with the saints wearing her wings and loving her God.
Liz Beehner
September 2019
In addition to her parents, Aunt Rita was predeceased by her brothers and sisters-in law, Edward and Kathleen (Lynn) Leskoske and Paul (Bob) and Erdine (Reschke) Leskoske; niece, Margaret (Richard) Alivero, nephew, Thomas Leskoske, nephew-in-law, Eric Hoffmann, grandnieces, Victoria Kathleen Alivero, Christine and Casey Leskoske, great-grand nephew, Evan Michael Kelley and great grand-niece, Emma Abigail Leskoske as well as by her dear friends, Naomi Seibert and Mary (Dinny) Kalska.
Aunt Rita is survived by her nieces and nephews; Kathleen (Edward) Kelley, James Leskoske (Marge Kantak), Mary (Marty) Sherman, Joseph (Kathy) Leskoske, Susan (Kulha) Leskoske, John (Donna) Leskoske. Patricia (F. James) Kelley, Michael Leskoske, Eileen (John) Bok and Mark (Joann) Leskoske.
Grand nieces and nephews; John Kelley (Gina Harrington), Karen (Ted) Macri, Teresa (Ken) Williams, James (Melissa) Kelley, Brian (Joy) Kelley, Linda West, Susan (Bob) Cottet, Captain Erica Hoffmann (USN), Alicia Alivero (Tim Spence), Monica (Tony) Bova, Elaine (Joe) McBride, Matthew (Kelly) Leskoske, Sarah (Sean) Penney, Ellen (Everett) Townley, and David (Amberly) Kelley, Kathleen Bok, Megan Bok, Joseph Leskoske and Thomas Leskoske.
Great-grand nieces and nephews; David and Catherine Macri, Caitlin Williams (Lorne Mauldin), Emily Williams (Sam Delosh), Braxton and Landon Kelley, Isabella and Theo Kelley, Carolyn Olmsted (Alex Schenk), J.J. West, Victoria Alivero, Jack Bova, Kathleen McBride, Lorelai Leskoske, Shenique Lewis, Dominic, Anthony and Michael Penney, Jackson, Branson and Dawson Kelley and Meagan Harrington (Tyler Grrevelding).
Great-great grand nieces and nephews; Laura and Maya Olmsted, Bryson Estrada and Asher Harrington, her first cousin, Joan Leskoske, several more distant cousins and her dear friends, Paul Kalska and Karen Mattice.
Visitation will be Wednesday, August 11, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Keegan-Osbelt-Knight Funeral Home, Inc., 900 N. Salina Street, Syracuse. We ask that you wear a mask in the funeral home if you are not vaccinated.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Assumption Church, 812 N. Salina Street, Syracuse. Please note, masks will be required in the church.
The Rite of Committal and Burial will be immediately following in Assumption Cemetery.
Contributions in Aunt Rita’s memory may be made to Assumption Church, 812 N. Salina St, Syracuse NY 13208