Connie Sanchez Deleon

Connie Jo de Leon, 67-years- old, passed away on Friday April 24, 2015 at her home in Los Angeles surrounded by her beloved canines Sonny, Tango and Whiskey. Connie was born in Hanford, Ca on March 26, 1948 and was raised in Herndon, Ca. She attended Central High School and went on to receive a nursing degree.

Her passion for nursing, compassionate bedside manner and sharp wit rewarded her with an enriched nursing career that expanded over 35 years. During those years her roles included Nurse, Medical Records Director, Medical Records Consultant, Staff Development Director and Facility Administrator at different facilities that spanned from the central valley to the Monterey Coast. Connie’s vivacious, no-nonsense personality was well respected and her reputation for making successful impacts in many facilities quickly became legendary. Over the years she made many friends that considered her family. Carmel Hills in Pacific Grove became her home and its staff her extended family during the last 8 years of her professional life, where she proudly held positions of Staff Development Director and Facility Administrator. She would later refer to those years as some of the most rewarding and enjoyable years of her career.

Connie married the love of her life, Ernesto de Leon on March 24, 1970: they were married for 22 years and lived in Fresno, Ca where they raised their two children, Monika Hill and Shawn de Leon. When living in Fresno it was not uncommon to find Connie sitting in her favorite chair whistling to her favorite Country or Mexican tunes. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends; in many instances her house was dubbed as “Grand Central Station” as people would randomly stop by for a cup of coffee, a shoulder to lean on, strong advice and much laughter. She was quick to be the party planner of the family and most often was also the life of the party as she donned silly hats or costumes. In her later years she found a new passion in making jewelry and would spend hours sitting in her studio creating her treasures.

Connie is survived by her children Monika Hill and Shawn de Leon, grand children Sawyer and Brandon, her sisters Rosie, Rachel and Elsa, and her stepfather Pedro Trujillo.

Connie is preceded in death by Maria Trujillo her mother and husband Ernesto de Leon.

Memorial Mass services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday May 8, 2015 at Our Lady of Victory Church, 2838 N West Ave., Fresno, Ca 93706.

Celebration of Life event will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Union Hall located at 544 W. Olive Ave., Fresno, CA 93728.

If you wish to send flowers, please send to: Our Lady of Victory Church, 2838 N. West Ave., Fresno, Ca 93706 to be delivered between 10:00-11:00 a.m. on May 8th.

Charity donations may be sent in Connie’s name to the American Lung Association.