Mary Frances Leonard

Mary Frances ""Fray"" Leonard went on to her Great Reward May 30th, 2016 at the age of 72. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, after a short battle with metastatic lung and brain cancer. She faced her death as she had lived life; joyful and with complete trust in God. Fray was born in Chicago, IL in 1943 to John Emmett Leonard and Mary Ann Walsh. She was the third child of nine siblings. When she was a small child, her parents moved their growing family to Denver, CO. In 1952 her father contracted polio and became paralyzed from the neck down. Fray, being one of the oldest children, lovingly helped with the immense care her father required for the next 9 years of his life. This love led her to pursue a career as a registered nurse. She graduated from St. Joseph's nursing program in 1964. She put her training to use shortly after when she joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Ethiopia. Her adventurous and loving spirit also led her to Mexico where she worked in the local orphanages with the poorest of the poor. She met Alfredo Lopez while working at a local Denver hospital. They married in 1975 after moving to the Yakima Valley of Washington State where Alfredo was finishing his Physician Assistant studies. Soon thereafter, they welcomed their first children, twins Amy and Susie. One year later, Martin arrived to add to the family. In 1982, they adopted Patrick John. Their family was complete. During this time, Fray was a mother for the books. She taught them all to climb the cherry trees and where the best apples in the orchard were to be found. She insisted on being the first to test-out the 75ft. rope swing before she ""dare let one of her babies"" take a shot. She would bribe the kids with 5 chapters from whatever story if one of them would brush her hair, all the while imparting her wicked sense of humor and voices for each character. But first and foremost her children learned the deep love of God through their mother. After the grief of an ended marriage, Fray continued to work as a nurse and raising her children as a single parent. She retired in 2006 from PACU nursing at Rose Hospital and began the last chapter of her life as a missionary for God through the Neocatechumenal Way in Washington D.C. at Redemptoris Mater Seminary. For the next 10 years, she lived her life for God as she always had, and was in a constant state of gratitude for all God had given her. In her final days, she accepted her cross with joy, and was a true witness of her faith to all who had the privilege of knowing her. She joins her sister Dorothy Leonard and their parents in heaven. She will be missed by her children Amy and her husband Siegfried Klein, Susie and her husband Adam Holdt, Martin Lopez, and Patrick John Lopez. Her cherished grandchildren, Waelen, Maximilian, Titus, Mattea, Gianna, and Jude will painfully miss their Granny. She is survived by her siblings Mary Agnes Leonard, Mary Ann Deline, Mary Joan Wernick, Mary Collette Anderson, John Leonard, Mary Kathleen Svendsen, and David Leonard. She was also the beloved aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews. She lived her life for God, failing many times by her own account, but always with the prayer that one day she would be forever with Him. She can now rest in Him. Both the Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church, 3310 South Sherman Street, Englewood, CO. The Rosary will be on Thursday, June 2nd, at 7 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 3rd, at 10 am. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 12801 W. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO. Please share your memories of Fray and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.