Helen M. (Dhionis) Leahy, born and raised in Newton, a resident of Concord, Wellesley and Scituate passed away Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, of natural causes at age 88. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert T. Leahy.
She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who most enjoyed life through her family. Her parents, Kosta and Theodora Dhionis, were hard working Albanian immigrants who initially settled in the West End of Boston before moving out of the city, at a time when fruit peddlers could afford a house in Newton, and the trolley cars still ran all the way into Boston.
She spent her youth in the midst of strong extended family ties in a country new to her parents and relatives, attending frequent Albanian picnic festivals, while at the same time she and her five siblings assimilated as teenagers into early 1950’s Americana.
She was proud of her Legal Secretary degree from Burdett College, her spotless record in charge of the cashier receipts room at Star Market, and later her books that were never off by a penny over many decades working side by side with her husband at Ideal Wire Products, Inc.
She and Bob moved to Concord in 1962, where they raised and enjoyed their family, while maintaining frequent contact with her extended family, where everyone was a cousin. She hosted many summers in Scituate, building irreplaceable memories, traditions and bonds at the beach for her children and grandchildren, that will last even as the aromas of her lasagna, barbecued spareribs, and apple pie fade.
She leaves her three children, Elizabeth Snyder, MD and her husband Michael Snyder, MD of Houston, TX and Scituate, Charles Leahy and his wife Teresa Leahy of Concord, and Brenda Docktor and her husband Thomas Docktor of Wellesley and Scituate, and her grandchildren Lauren, Andrew, George and Cecily Docktor, Robert Leahy, Helene Snyder, Garrett Leahy, and Madeline Rutledge and her husband Victor. To the end she remained close with her siblings, George Dhionis and his wife Pennie of Watertown, and Lynne Kelley and her husband Richard of Scituate.
Family and friends will gather for a period of visitation in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Thursday, December 22nd from 8:45 to 10:15 am. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 am in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Concord Park, especially Tonya and Michele, for their support and care to Helen in her final years.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Concord Park, 68 Commonwealth Ave, Concord, MA 01742, attention Business Office and note her name in memo, or to the charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in her online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
