Anne Marie Leone

After 86 years of living and loving, Anne Marie Furnar Leone passed from this earth on August 5, 2017. Born June 11, 1931 to Fred Furnar and Rose Federico Furnar Vilardo, in 1948 she graduated from Dunkirk High School, Dunkirk NY and at age 18 was employed as a bookkeeper for the Alleghany Steel Co. She married Joseph Anthony Leone (d. 2006) in 1954 and a year later welcomed their daughter, JoAnne Leone (Blairsville GA) and two years later their daughter, Carol Leone (Dallas TX).

In 1969, Anne and her husband Joe opened Leone's House of Music in Fredonia, NY. Anne's vision went beyond providing the music department faculty and students at SUNY Fredonia with instruments and musical supplies. She designed soundproof music studios, hiring a faculty to offer private music lessons to youngsters throughout the Chautauqua County area.

In 1975, the Leone's ventured out to Southern California where they became a successful real estate sales team. Five years later they moved to Palm Beach County, FL where they continued as Realtors, eventually easing into retirement. They resided in Port St Lucie, FL full time until 2002, when they transitioned to the North Georgia Mountains residing at Lakeside Village, Blairsville, GA. Throughout these retirement years, Anne became known for her achievements in games of Bridge and Mah Jongg.

After her husband's death, Anne moved to Dallas, TX to be near her daughter Carol, son-in-law Regan W. Smith, and the grandchildren she was so devoted to: Ryan Leone Smith, his wife Andrea Betts, and Olivia Anne Smith (NY, NY). In spite of Anne's substantial successes in business, she would tell everyone her greatest life accomplishments were raising her daughters and being a guiding light to her grandchildren.

In her final years, Anne was blessed with a dear friend and caregiver, Cecilia Grussendorf. In Anne's last days, she was kept peaceful and comforted by her family and the caregivers at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice Wing of Faith Presbyterian Palliative Care Center of Dallas. If friends should desire, memorials may be made to this exceptional non-profit organization C/O Faith Presbyterian Hospice, 550 East Ann Arbor, Dallas TX 75216.
In addition to her husband and parents, Anne was predeceased by her brothers Fred Furnar and Joseph Furnar. Anne Leone leaves us with the cherished memories of a woman of substance, who made sacrifices for her loved ones and offered her wisdom, heart, and friendship to many.

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