Leona Foley-Hart Brandt McCarthy passed away surrounded by her family in Cranford, NJ on November 3, 2018. She was 96 years old. Leona was born on August 11, 1922 in New York.
She was the only child of Catherine Foley-Hart Wrigley and John Foley-Hart. She was born in New York City and grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn where she graduated from Erasmus High School. Friends are invited to visit 6-8 PM Monday and 4-8 PM Tuesday at the Dooley Funeral Home, 218 North Ave.
West in Cranford. Mass… Read More » of Christian Burial 9:30 AM Wednesday at St. Michael’s Church, 40 Alden St., Cranford. Interment in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.
Leona married Kenneth Brandt on January 15, 1944. Kenneth was a highly decorated Staff Sergeant who was killed in World War 2. After the war, Leona married John J. McCarthy, also of Brooklyn, NY and together they had nine children.
John and Leona began their married life in Brooklyn, but soon moved to New Jersey to raise their family, beginning in New Milford before settling in Cranford. They bought a home and began vacationing in Buck Hill Falls, PA in the early 1970s. Leona was an only child who became an incredibly busy mother of nine, grandmother of sixteen and great grandmother of seven and friend to many.
She often said “The love of the family is the greatest blessing of all”. While her greatest pride was her family, she was a generous and avid volunteer who ran Cub Scout troops with her sons and 4-H clubs with her daughters and was involved in many volunteer projects through the church and in her community. She and her husband John were devout Catholics with a strong fundamental belief in education.
All nine children were educated in catholic schools through high school and all graduated college with most completing secondary education degrees as well. She and her family were active members of St. Michael’s Church in Cranford. Leona was a past President of the St. Michael’s Rosary Society and had an unwavering devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary.
She had a passion for helping families and became a Board member of Family & Children’s Service in Elizabeth, NJ for nearly 50 years. She was part of The Children’s Service Committee, a subsidiary of Family & Children. She worked tirelessly to raise money and awareness for local families in crisis.
Family meant everything to Leona and she always wanted to help others who were in need so they could remain together as a family unit and recover from whatever tragedies life handed them. Leona was a passionate woman who had many hobbies and interests which included the Dig & Delve Garden Club, world-wide traveling, reading, golf, art, theatre as well as being a master seamstress, who often made outfits for her children and passed on those talents by heading the Sewing Sisters 4-H club with each of her daughters being members. Leona travelled extensively with her husband, John, and with a large group of close friends she had made in Cranford.
The ladies were adventurous, even going to Russia during the late 1970s in the heart of the Cold War. Leona extended her love of travel to the rest of her family and began taking her grandchildren, who all called her “Mammy”, on trips when they graduated from 8th grade. Although Leona had a large biological family, she was an adoptive mother to countless friends of her children.
Leona and John took up golf as a hobby. Leona was a gifted artist working with oil paint and watercolor. After John’s death in 1981, Leona began spending time in Florida and became a member of the community of Marsh Creek in St. Augustine, FL.
She spent many years as an active part of that community: painting, being part of the ladies’ golf association, and contributing to multiple groups and functions. Leona is predeceased by Kenneth Brandt and John J. McCarthy. She is survived by her 9 children and spouses: John and Joanne McCarthy of Chicopee, MA; Mary McCarthy of Clark, NJ; Robert and Elizabeth McCarthy of Sarasota, FL; Eileen and Cedric Foster of Cranford, NJ; Doreen McCarthy and Craig Zabala of New York, NY; Terrence and Jennifer McCarthy of Cranford, NJ; Kathleen and Philip Annichiarico of Oldsmar, FL; Daniel McCarthy of Westfield, NJ and Beth and Eric Miller of Westfield, NJ.
She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and spouses: Maureen McCarthy, John and Alex McCarthy, Corey McCarthy and Scott Lyman, John and Stephanie McCarthy, Emily McCarthy, Cedric and Angela Foster, Susan Foster and Scott Petts, Kathleen Foster, John and Lesley Foster, Catherine McCarthy, Hannah McCarthy, Terrence McCarthy, Daniel McCarthy, Philip Annichiarico and Giana Kase, Jolie Annichiarico, Aiden Miller. She is survived by 7 great-grandchildren: Liam Foster, Penelope Foster, Matilda Petts, Henrietta Petts, Elliotte Petts, Emmett McCarthy and Philip Annichiarico. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Family and Children Service: 40 North Ave, Elizabeth, NJ 07208 www.
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