OXFORD – Leona Whittaker, 98 of Oxford, passed away on Aug. 13, 2009 at Gilmour Health Care Facility, Norwich.
She was born on April 11, 1911 in Norwich, the daughter of the late Harry and Jennie (Eccleston) Monroe. She married Harold Hackett in December of 1928, he passed away in 1959. She then married David Whittaker, who passed away in 1967.
She is survived by her son Willard Hackett of Vermont and her daughter, with whom she resided for 20 years, Elaine Daily of Oxford; her “other son,” Reginald Savory; her sisters and brother in law, Erma and Frank Carlin and Lila Webb; her grandchildren, Nancy Peterson, Janine Davis, Kevaney Reilly, Donald Martin, Debbie Hawley, Susan Prock, Carol Rudinski, Daphne Hackett, Ronald Martin and Heather Morack and special grandchildren, Lynne Gosart and Tom Daily; her great grandchildren, Shane Willcox, Kylee Borden, Jessica Martin, Mark Martin, Hillary Conklin, Brian Fritschler, Chase Davis, Elaine Davis, Christian Martin, Hunter Martin, Gabrielle Martin, Jennie Drwal, Jordan Peabody, Hannah Rudinski, Liza Rudinski, Michelle, Lynn, and Jenny. 10 great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews also survive. She was predeceased by her daughters Nancy Hackett Snell, Elizabeth Martin; her son Donald Hackett; her great granddaughter Heidee Peterson; her brothers, Richard Monroe, Clifford Monroe and Wilson Monroe and her sisters Beatrice Odone and Genevieve Conroy. She was a very special mother in law and grandmother in law to all of her family.
In 1956 she reached her goal and received her Licensed Practical Nurse license. She worked many years at the Bida Nursing Home in Oxford and from there she went to Valley View Manor Nursing Home, where she retired in 1973. She was an active member of Fort Hill Post #376 American Legion Auxiliary and for many years worked at the bar at the American Legion. She was happiest when pulling her homemade bread or apple pie from the oven. She was passionate about her flowers. With her goes a wealth of knowledge.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesda at the Behe Funeral Home, 21 Main St., Oxford with the Rev. Allen C. Lang, pastor of the United Church of Oxford officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, Oxford.
Friends may call at the Behe Funeral Home, Oxford on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Taste and See Soup Kitchen at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 28 Main St., Oxford, NY.