Leona Riedemann Johnson

Leona Meta Johnson, born November 16, 1933 in Elk Grove, Ill. to John D and Nora Landmeier Riedemann, passed away May 9, 2013 in Irving, Texas. She was married in Milton, Florida March 12, 1957 to Paul S. Johnson, Jr. and graduated from Elgin High School in Illinois. Preceded in death by brother, Robert (Bobby) Riedemann; sister, Doris Anita Ciaccio and parents named above. She is survived by her husband, Admiral Paul Stafford Johnson, Jr., her children, Julie Ann Crossland and husband Alan, Paul Stafford Johnson, III and Jennifer Deena Perez and husband Javier; grandchildren, Peyton Nicole Perez, Hunter Ried Crossland, Karina Montana Perez, Sarah Allison, and Trevor Ried Perez; brothers, Walter Riedemann and wife Seanne (Addison, IL.), Herbert Riedemann and wife Hilda (Bemidji, MN.), John Riedemann and wife Shaun (Algonquin, IL.) and brother in law, Richard Ciaccio (Little Rock, AR.) and all their families. Leona, "Lee" as she preferred to be called, was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She was a member of the YMCA "Kickers" league performing dance routines to assisted-living establishments and nursing homes. She was a member of the Red Roses group, formerly known as Red Hats. She was a painter, a Gray Lady volunteer in Jacksonville, Fl. at the infirmary, a very skilled bargain and garage sale huntress and a devoted grandmother, lovingly known to many as "Oma". She dearly loved helping others above and beyond thinking of herself ......veterans, animals, The Family Place and strangers, some of whom soon became a part of the family and more. She is known for her selfless acts of giving, being a true neighbor to all, her love of art and travel and being one of most compassionately dear hearted persons you would ever want to know. In our neighborhood community of Chapel Downs she played in the 1976 production of "The Fantasticks" as The Mute with the "Off Brockbank Players". She always helped with the holiday parties at the club whether it was organizing food, planning, but mainly it seems she loved to help with the decorating. She worked at the Rag Doll, a women's clothing store in Dallas for many years assisting customers with their needs; although she rarely came home with a paycheck due to clothing her daughters, her neighborhood friends and others. She volunteered and carpooled at all her children's swim meets every summer, the dance recitals, soccer games, football games, and cheerleading, diving and gymnastics practices, games and meets. She volunteered as a "Candy Striper" at Brookhaven Hospital in Dallas. She enjoyed her latent college years earning several associates ' degrees from Brookhaven College. Funeral Services will be held, 1:00 PM, Saturday, May 18, 2013, Calvary Hill Funeral Home Chapel. There will be a reception immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Dog and Kitty City, Huntington's disease foundation and Head for the Cure or the Caring Bridge. Dognkittycity.org, HDSA.org, Headforthecure.org or the Caringbridge.com.