Eleanor "Ellie" Catherine Leonard

On Thursday February 6, 2020, Eleanor C. Leonard (Ellie), loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend to many, passed away at age 83.

Ellie was born on May 5, 1936 in Brooklyn New York to Giovanni Schiavo and Anne Maher Schiavo.  She grew up most of her life with her parents and older sister, Giovanna Schiavo (Masterson) in Metuchen, New Jersey.  She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with her bachelor’s degree and began working in New York in the fashion industry. In 1959 while visiting her sister in Texas, Ellie met George Leonard and the two were married on August 8, 1960. Ellie then went into teaching prior to raising her family.  They raised two sons and a daughter.  Ellie and George had a fourth child, Thomas Andrew Leonard, who passed away just days after his birth.

She enjoyed a successful career in real estate for many years, such as being the Broker Manager for ReMax in Plano, serving on the Board of Directors for the Collin County Association of Realtors and was the President of the Women’s Council of Realtors.  She was respected and admired throughout the real estate community.

Ellie was loved by so many.  She loved spending time with her family and friends as much as they loved sharing time with her.  She was so special to all the children, not just her own, but her in-laws, nieces, nephews, God daughter and of course her grandchildren.  Nani, as she was called by her grandchildren, was unbelievably full of unconditional love to all.

She was preceded in death by her mother Anne Maher Schiavo, her father Giovanni Schiavo, her sister Giovanna Schiavo Masterson, her brother-in-law John Masterson and her son, Thomas Andrew Leonard.

Ellie is survived by her loving husband, George Arthur Leonard; three living children, James Arthur Leonard, Catherine Judith Leonard Ellis and Andrew John Leonard; son-in-law and daughters-in-law, Robert Ellis, Rhonda Womack Leonard and Anjanette Luna Leonard; three grandchildren, Cameron (Cammy) Ellis, Olivia Leonard and Patience Sarah Leonard as well as numerous nieces, nephew, and a God child that she loved like her own.

A visitation and rosary will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2020, at Allen Funeral Funeral Options from 6-8 pm, 2112 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas 75023.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 21, 2020, at Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church at 10:30 am, 1201 Alma Drive, Plano, Texas 75075.   A reception will follow in the Parish Hall from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm.

The burial will be at 2:00 pm at the Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas  75211.  A bus will be provided for those who wish to travel together to the burial.