Janice Marie Leonard

Janice Marie Leonard of Quincy, passed away July 11, 2017.   Janice was a creative gypsy who had a tremendous ability to love. She began her design career as a florist and then turned her creativity to clothing. As a secretary for Barrett Ring in the Garment District of Boston, her talents were soon discovered and she flourished as designer of her own missy sportswear collections, producing design labels, ‘nanciel’, ‘Janice Leonard’ and ‘Jan Martinez Designs’.  Her passions followed her to Maui, HI where she had incredible new experiences and made amazing lifelong friends. Her siblings all visited and had their stamp of pineapple love. After giving birth to the love of her life, her daughter, Raine, Jan returned to the East Coast.

Jan joined the Notes Marketing and Investor Relations teams at Lotus Development where she enjoyed many years of learning and laughter. She left to have her heart surgery but then rejoined the working world where she left her mark and friendship on a variety of companies, such as Gentle Giant and most recently Fuller Village. She kept her creativity alive by designing, making and presenting wedding favor ornaments and holiday wreaths over many years to tradeshows and local markets.

Her return to the East Coast also began her walk with her community at the Our Lady of Assumption Church in East Boston. She found her inner peace and love of Christ among her new ‘family’. She and Raine have enjoyed many years of love, laughter, travel and support in their church community. We are very grateful.

Once you became Jan’s friend it was for life. Her friends included church members, employers, co-workers, neighbors and her NQHS classmates. You would soon be invited to lunch or dinner for ‘just a little something’, and arrive to an amazing feast. She absolutely loved to cook for those she loved. She began reading cookbooks but was soon texting her recipes, menus or food shopping lists, to friends near and far. Those of you who knew Jan, knew she couldn’t quite figure out how to only cook for two! It was over decades that her meals brought together her variety of friends and family. You would arrive not knowing if you would sit next to one of her childhood friends, her parish priest, a sibling, a friend from Hawaii, or perhaps someone she had only met that day. She and Raine always opened their home, wherever that was, with love, laughter and comfort. It was Jan continuing her creativity but more importantly, her service to others.

In addition to cooking, Jan loved to paint, listen to Raine play guitar, being close to the ocean and talking about her friends and bragging about her nieces and nephews. She traveled to many places throughout the US, Caribbean and Europe. Her most recent trip fulfilled her dream of going to the Holy Land. However, it was by close oceans and lakes where she enjoyed and created incredible memories with her friends. She went by many names, Janice, Jan, Red, Sis, Auntie, or Mom, but she was always friend. Jan has left her imprint on many hearts and lives and will be sadly missed but never forgotten. Jan would always say she wished she had a greater intellect but it was all of us who truly learned from her.

Daughter to the late Daniel and Claire “Rainy” (Morrissey) Leonard of Charlestown and Quincy; former wife to Abel Martinez. Beloved mother to Raine Martinez of Quincy. Cherished sister to Daniel J. Leonard, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Pembroke, David J. Leonard of Delray Beach, FL, Neil M. Leonard and his wife Barbara of Stoughton, Nancy McAdams and her husband Jim of Quincy. Hilarious and loving aunt to Adam, Desiree, Ashleigh, Jessica, Ryan, Jill, Nicole, Brendan, Matt, Bridget, Daniel and Cormac. Also survived by countless family and friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Sunday 3-7 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10 AM in Our Lady of Assumption Church, 404 Sumner Street,  East Boston.

Burial in Pine Hill Cemetery, Quincy.

Donations in memory of Janice may be made to Redemptions Martyr Seminary, Brookline, MA; attn.: Fr. Tony Medeiros, http://www.rmsboston.org/.