Leona Mary (Quellette) Keenan

Merrill, Michigan

Leona M. (Quellette) Keenan, 94, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Thursday, November 7, 2024. Leona was a woman of strong faith throughout her life. She was a true firecracker for her faith and she had a true love for her family.

Leona was born on July 4, 1930, in St. Charles, Michigan, to the late Lloyd and Mae (McCormick) Quellette. She grew up in Saginaw, Michigan and graduated from SS Peter and Paul Catholic High School with the class of 1948. After high school, Leona met the love of her life, Thomas Keenan. The two were married on June 18, 1949. A few years into the marriage, the couple decided to venture to the wilderness of the soon to be state of Alaska, where they lived for ten years. Leona loved waking up to the beautiful view of Mt. Pioneer in her backyard in Palmer, Alaska. Another thing Leona particularly remembered of Alaska was surviving the devastating earthquake of 1964. Many lives were lost and the ensuing tsunami was the most destructive ever observed in North America. Later, Tom and Leona decided to leave Alaska and move back to Michigan. They settled in Merrill, Michigan where they spent the remainder of their years together. They were married for 50 years until Tom’s passing on June 24, 1999. They had a wonderful life together and spent many Friday and Saturday nights dancing at the Washington Society Club in Saginaw, Michigan.

Leona was a hard-working person. She worked at an experimental farm station and at Netbysju Electric in Alaska. After returning to Michigan, Leona was a homemaker, raising three children and she also helped at the school. After the children were grown, Leona went to work at the Saginaw County Treasurer’s Office for 30 years. She was also a member of the League of Catholic Women and a lifelong member of St. John XXIII Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Leona loved watching her Detroit Tigers and she rarely missed a game. She also loved bowling, gardening, as well as watching and feeding the birds.

Leona will be missed tremendously by those left behind. She is survived by her sons and daughter, Thomas Patrick Keenan, Kevin Shawn (Jennifer) Keenan, Kathleen Patricia (Scott) Listvan; grandchildren, Kasey (Brian) Honaman, David (Megan) Keenan; great-grandchildren, Payton, Tyler and Waylon; sister, Joyce (Willmar) Haubenstricker; sister-in-laws: Patricia Keenan, Joanne (Phil) Peterson; a very dear aunt, Deloros McLellan. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Besides her husband and her parents, Leona was preceded in death by her brothers, Duane (Phyllis) Quellette, Joseph (Alberta) Quellette; brothers and sisters-in-law, John (Arlene) Keenan, Francis (Catherine) Keenan, Kathleen (Bernard) Kennelly, Daniel Mike (Dorothy) Keenan, Terrance Keenan, Mary Grace Lenz; nephew, Jon Haubenstricker; and nieces, Mary Catherine Yauch, Kimberly Keenan.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Woodland Hospice House and her very dear friend and caretaker, Jan Edgar, for their kind and compassionate care of Leona.

Funeral Liturgy will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at St. John XXIII Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 419 S Midland St, Merrill, MI 48637. Rev. Fr. Michael F. Steltenkamp, S.J. will officiate with Rite of Committal to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Friends may visit the family from 10:00 a.m. until the time of mass on Tuesday at the church. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to St. John XXIII Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church; Jonesfield - Lakefield Township Fire Department; or St. Mary University Parish, 1405 S Washington St, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858.

Please share your condolences and memories with the family at the visitation, service, or online at https://www.casefuneralhome.com