Leatrice Marie Theresa Monahan Kronewitter said farewell to this life on April 29, 2018. Born on June 4, 1927, in Joliet, IL, she made her home in South Bend, IN from a very young age. Her parents, George and Mary Monahan and her sisters, Marjorie (Carlton) and Georgina (Klingerman), preceded her in death, as did her husband, Mike, and their beloved baby, Karen.
Leatrice married Michael “Big Mike” Kronewitter on May 20, 1950 and they remained married for 67 years until his death in 2017. They had four children, “Little” Michael James, Janet Lee (Kronewitter-Leedy), Karen “Clem” Marie, “Baby” Jane Marie (Fazi). Karen preceded Leatrice in death as a wee baby and it was always Leatrice’s belief that there was an angel in heaven praying for her.
She is survived also, by two sons-in-law, Eric Leedy and Floyd Fazi and four grandchildren: Michael, Kathryn, Emily and Charlotte Fazi. She was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Cathedral for over 60 years, during which time she sang in the choir, volunteered her time and put all of her children through St. Matthew Catholic School. Leatrice was a very intelligent and artistic young woman, who, had she been born in a different time, would have gone on to college and become a librarian.
She loved to read and learn new things and she passed that love onto her children. After working in a law office prior to her marriage, she stayed home to raise her children and care for her family. She taught her children many things; how to cook, bake, make candy, create art, sew, and most importantly, make sure things were done the correct way and to your best ability.
She demonstrated how “doing” for others was something that should just be part of your life. She shared her beautiful roses and other flowers with many people. (Always with a wet paper towel wrapped around the freshly cut stems, with a baggie over it, so they would stay fresh).
She believed people had enough vases and didn’t need any more of them cluttering up the house. Teachers, priests and nuns often received thoughtful gifts from her; always beautifully wrapped and given for no other reason than it was a nice thing to do. Years later, her children bring flowers, food and little trinkets to people, “just because”.
It is a legacy left behind by their Mom. At 4’11½”, Leatrice’s nickname was “Shorty”. We’re not sure she liked it all that much, but that’s what her husband called her.
Her son-in-law, Eric Leedy called her “Special K”. All the cousins called her Aunt Lea and most everyone else called her Mrs. Kronewitter. She was a firm believer in respect and raised all her children to have good manners, do the right thing, treat others properly, write thank you notes and express themselves well.
If it was worth doing, it was worth doing well was her motto, and she did many things well. Leatrice was a force of nature. When her small frame entered a room, you knew it.
She moved quickly and she talked fast. It was impossible to meet her and not have her leave an impression on you. While she was not a natural joke teller, or quick with a quip, no one who spent time around her ever doubted her sharp mind and sarcastic wit.
She didn’t spend time telling her children she was proud of them and that she loved them, she showed them instead. She demonstrated her love with all of the dance costumes she made, the Barbie clothes she sewed, the schoolwork she checked, the cookies and birthday cakes she baked and decorated beautifully, the late nights staying up working on science projects, the vacations she planned and documented with pictures, the books she bought, the flute and piano lessons she drove to, the personalized t-shirts she made, the girl scout and blue bird troops she led, the countless times she was a room mother and the pats on the back telling us “there, there, you’ll be a football player by and by”. (We still don’t know what that meant, but it was strangely comforting).
A woman who lives 90+ years makes an impact on the world, whether it is readily obvious or not. Most of her life, Leatrice stayed at home and cared for her family. A stay at home mother often times doesn’t have the usual list of “accomplishments” to put in an obituary.
Many times, the important contributions are overlooked and go unmentioned. Leatrice doesn’t leave a string of readily seen accomplishments behind her, but there are many, if you care to look more closely. Her three children, four grandchildren and the many people she interacted throughout her 90 years were touched by her life.
Leatrice showed people what it meant to be a good mother, wife, sister and friend. Fiercely loyal, she cared for friends and relatives when they were ill and for her children when they were sad. She honored her God with prayer and song.
She honored the priests and nuns of her Catholic community with flowers, cookies and treats. She travelled around the country with her son, taking wonderful vacations to places like Alaska. She brought treats for everyone in the class, on the team or in the troop, caring equally for all, leaving out none and providing thoughtful substitutions for those who had allergies.
She demonstrated what it meant to think about other people’s needs and go the extra mile to include them. How very thoughtful she was to make everyone feel important. How much better the world is because she was in it and taught her children how to continue to make it a better place by respecting and loving other people.
In the final years of her life, Leatrice was robbed of her natural vigor and strong decisive personality. Who she had been for most of her life was taken from her by illness. When someone is changed so drastically in the end years of her life, it becomes difficult to remember who she really was.
Occasionally the veil would lift and “Mom” would reappear for just a little while. In those moments her children heard her true voice and could really see her again. It made us miss her even more.
Our greatest sadness was having to say good bye to her long before she physically left us. Your long slow goodbye has ended now, rest in peace, Mom. Donations may be made to: Harbor Light Hospice 1820 E. Day Road, Mishawaka IN 46545 Tel: 1-800-662-8889 Email: infosb@harborlighthospice.com Web: www.
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