Leonard’s oldest resident passed away at her home over the Memorial Day weekend.
After living a full, rich life in her beloved rural town, Marie Josephine (Farinetti) Spezia passed away Sunday, May 25, 2008.
She was 101 years old.
‘She really loved life ? there was no doubt about that,? said her son, Leonard farmer John Spezia, Jr.
Born in Detroit in April 1907, Spezia moved to Leonard with her husband John, Sr. in 1944.
There the couple raised their son and daughter, Rita (Spezia) Reckling, while working their potato farm.
The Spezias were married for 62 years when John, Sr. passed away in 2001.
When she wasn’t tending to her family or the farm, Spezia worked in the cafeteria at Ford’s Michigan Proving Ground in Romeo for 11 years. She also worked at Park-Davis for about 12 years.
Spezia was noted for her generosity, kind spirit and sparkling personality.
‘She always put everybody else first,? said her son. ‘She was just a sweet old gal ? you couldn’t beat her.?
‘She was just a wonderful, bubbly, vivacious lady,? said Leonard Village Councilwoman Char Sutherby.
A fiercely independent lady, Spezia lived alone in her home of 64 years right up until the very end of her lengthy life.
‘She was a tough old gal,? according to her son.
John, Jr. said she still did her own cooking and cleaning. Whenever he’d visit, she wouldn’t let him leave without taking a slice of pie or some cookies.
She had trouble walking, but her mind was still sharp. ‘She could tell you anything about anybody from any time,? John, Jr. said.
Sutherby described Spezia as ‘very feisty.?
A few years ago, Sutherby recalled Spezia underwent a double mastectomy on a Monday and was attending the local fish fry she loved so much that Friday. ‘I can’t imagine a younger person doing that let alone this lady in this advanced age,? she said.
Spezia never let her age stop her from getting out of the house and enjoying life to the fullest, according to Eleanor Hamilton, a friend to Spezia for 61 years.
‘We could call her up at 9 o’clock at night and ask her if she’d like to go for ice cream and she was ready to go,? Hamilton said. ‘She was game to do anything.?
A prominent village resident, Spezia was twice honored during Leonard’s annual Strawberry Festival ? the town’s main event.
In 1996, she and her husband were the Grand Marshals of the festival parade.
‘She was real excited about that,? Sutherby recalled. ‘That morning she looked at me and said, ‘I feel just like Mrs. Leonard.? It was just such a cute thing.?
Last year, Spezia was honored as the parade’s Special Person.
Besides her two children, Spezia is survived by five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and her sister Carol. A funeral Mass was said on May 28 at St. Cornelius in Dryden.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Cornelius Building Fund.