A funeral mass for Leonora will be held Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St. Catherine of Siena, 1042 Temple Terrace, Laguna Beach, California 92651.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pacificviewcalifornia.com for the Pike family.Leonora Gabriele Pike
3/2/1931-3/21/2023
Leonora Pike was born in Pasadena, CA on Pepper St at the family home behind the Gabriele Family
Grocery Store. She was born to her father, Angelo Gabriele, and her mother Carmela(Carmen) Forlizzi.
Her beloved older brother Julius, and half-brother and sisters, Tom, Mary and Maggie all grew up in the home with her. Leonora passed away peacefully in Dana Point, CA with family members visiting and comforting her.
Leonora’s talent for art started in the second grade at St Paul the Apostle’s grade school. Sister Mary sent her around to different classrooms to show students’ how to draw profiles. Leonora commented to Sister Mary that, “My work isn’t that good” and the nun branded her “Miss humility with a hook”. Leonora went on to attend Saint Monica high school and UCLA where she was a pre-med student, and had a job as a copy writer for the local CBS station. She left UCLA when her parents moved to Las Vegas NV. She met the love of her life, Gale Pike, in Las Vegas. They were married in 1956 and embarked on a wonderful, adventurous life together for 65 years.
Leonora was a loving wife and mother to her five children, a talented artist and writer, a philanthropist and amazing volunteer, and the warmest hostess who set the most beautiful tables with incredible food. She gave to everyone she met and began her relationships with a huge smile and hug. This multi-talented woman had endless energy and a verve for life. She loved nature, birds, and the ocean as well as fishing alongside Gale in mountain rivers. She loved her children and grandchildren and passed on to them the love of outdoors, art, great cooking and the importance of using your God- given talents to better the lives of all. We will all miss her genuineness and the beauty she instilled upon anything she touched.
Survived by her children and their spouses, grandchildren and her beloved brother and his children:
Mathew and Angela Pike (Nick and Gabriella Pike), Bianca and Cliff Taylor (Ethan and Carmen Taylor), Amanda and Patrick Shea (Daniel and Alessandra Shea), Christian and Stasia Pike (Lauren and Jacob Pike), Noah Pike (Hatton Pike) Julius Gabriele (Leslie, Peter, Jeff and Samantha)
Funeral Mass at St. Catherine of Siena, Laguna Beach 3/28/2023 at 10:00AM
Burial at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar directly afterwards
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