Jeanne Estelle Leach

Jeanne Estelle Burdash was born April 16th, 1935 to the late Joseph Daniel Burdash and Mary Margaret Willima Undis in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Jeanne married her beloved husband of 60 years, John Charles Leach, in 1954. They remained in Minnesota until moving to California in 1985.

Jeanne delighted in playing the piano and accordion; she especially loved singing and harmonizing with John. She enjoyed cooking and baking. She loved to travel. If anyone needed prayers, Jeanne was the first person to go to, and she would add it to her very long list of intensions. Jeanne worked for the Northwestern Bell telephone company from 1953 to 1955 as an operator. After becoming pregnant with her first child, she retired into the much more demanding job of raising twelve children.

The following is a poem that her granddaughter, Ashley Leach, wrote for her grandmother:

Jeanne Estelle Leach

A woman who holds a smile on her face, and a twinkle in her eye. She carries grace in her left hand, and mercy in her right. Her tender voice can become strong when needed, and her soft hands are not shy of being strict when necessary. Her love for her children is shown in her house, and her delight in her grandchildren is not easily missed. But more than the motherly calling that God has laid upon her, she carries a mother’s heart for all of those around her. Taking in the lost, and healing the broken, side by side with her husband who supports her so. Her servant attitude graces her humble actions, you are not neglected nor forgotten when she is around. You can’t help but feel loved and valued as a person by this beautiful woman. She takes no shame in the life that God has called for her, yet instead she embraces the gift of being a godly wife and mother who is draped in holiness and splendor. The biggest influence she has made is clear for all to gander, her love and respect for her husband brings submission to a new level. She is an example for all of us young women to look and learn from, a rose from God alone to enjoy the beauty and be challenged in our own. She is wonderful, she is treasured and cherished, she is a gift from God.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband John Charles Leach, son Matthew James Leach, granddaughter Tina Klemenko, great-grandson Nicholas Leach, brother Robert Joseph Burdash, niece Susan (Steven) Munger, and nephew Joseph Michael Burdash.

Jeanne is survived by her eleven remaining children: Cheryl (Randy) Sartin, John (Ann) Leach, Barbara (Ronald) Peehl, Mark Leach, Mary Jo (Richard) Simpson, Linda (Jonathan) Kocian, Steven (Traci) Leach, Charlene Kozar, Joseph Leach, Margaret Schwab, and Monica (Lee) Lambert.

In addition, Jeanne is survived by her thirty-four grandchildren: John (Amy) Klemenko, Jeffery (Brenna) Waltz, John (Brandi) Leach, Theresa (James) Tobako, Andy (Paula) Waltz, Joshua Leach, Timothy Klemenko, Sarah (David) Detjen, Justin (Kari) Leach, Heidi (Zach) Boswell, Michael (Maureen) Leach, Maria (Shane) Bakke, Christa Arloa, Matthew (Megan) Leach, Jessica (Nicholas) Bugnacki, Kaley (Landon) Cook, Lucas (Ashley) Leach, Bridgette Sade, Nathan Sartin, David (Madilynne) Leach, Daniel (Sierra) Leach, Elizabeth (Ryan) Kelly, Trevor Kozar, Dakota Leach, Nicholas Leach, Jennifer Schwab, Trevor Sartin, Thomas (Abby) Leach, Jami Leach, Michael Schwab, Gillian Kocian, Allison Lambert, and John Schwab.

In further addition, Jeanne is survived by her sixty-nine great-grandchildren: Kyle Prescott, Samantha Murphy, Hannah Hallin, Erin (Wyatt) Mapes, Cody Klemenko, Celestine Waltz, Jenna (Sam) Scholz, Hailey (Christian) Lenoard, Emily Leach, John Leach, Tyler Niven, Gabriel Bugnacki, Jordan Klemenko, Calvin Boswell, Morgan Zick, Halie Leach, Natalie Leach, Francis Bugnacki, Allison Arola, Alixandra Leach, Ethan Niven, Aubry Leach, Luke Leach, Joslyn Hanna, Alivia Klemenko, Jacob Leach, Caleb Arola, Adelyn Boswell, Emma Leigh Ann Leach, Sophia Cook, Rachel Bugnacki, Emma Rose Leach, Jaxson Leach, Emma Cook, Melissa Leach, Tristan Waltz, Kaitlyn Leach, Kalya Arola, Dominic Klemenko, Brooklyn Detjen, Andrew Waltz, Kendra Tobako, Rachel Leach, Ryan Leach, Joshua Leach, Makenzie Leach, Juliette Bugnacki, Isaac Boswell, Kelsey Arola, Sarah Leach, Isabelle Leach, Rebecca Leach, Nora Leach, Nora Kelly, Amora Sade, Charlotte Leach, Estelle Cook, Riley Kelly, Grace Leach, Sophia Leach, Olivia Ann Leach, Olivia Katerie Leach, James, Nolan, Mark Leach, Cassidy Kelly, Miller Leach, Katherine, and Margherita Leach.

Jeanne is also survived by two great-great granddaughters: Winnie Mapes and Lyla Murphy.

And finally, Jeanne is survived by her niece, Debra Burdash.

A visitation will be held at 11 A.M. on Monday, January 29th at St. Peter and St. Paul Church, 9135 Banyan Street, Alta Loma. A Funeral Mass will then be celebrated at 12 P.M., also at St. Peter and St. Paul Church.

Interment will be at 2:15 P.M. at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside.

A reception will follow at 3:30 P.M. at San Secondo d’Asti Church, 250 North Turner Avenue, Ontario.