Helen V. (Vaskas) Leoni

     Mrs. Helen V. Leoni, 91, a resident of Wilkes-Barre, passed unexpectedly into Eternal Life early Wednesday morning at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital surrounded by loved ones.

     Born September 26, 1929 in Tunkhannock, Helen was the youngest and the last surviving of nine children to the late Joseph and Anna (Matalavitch) Vaskas. Educated in the Tunkhannock school district, she was a member of the 1947 graduating class of the Tunkhannock High School.

     In her youth and following her formal education, she worked at the family business, the Beaumont Inn, for several years. She eventually met and married her beloved husband, Joseph L. Leoni, D.D.S., who passed on August 30, 2006.  At the time of Dr. Joseph Leoni's passing, the couple shared 55 years of married life together.  Following their marriage, Helen would assist her husband in the daily operations of his dental practice in Wilkes-Barre. Throughout her life, she managed and maintained several rental properties the family owned in the Wilkes-Barre area. 

     Helen’s family was her pride and joy, as she was the matriarch of the family. She was a proud mother and grandmother whose presence will be greatly missed by all those she touched in this life. She was a woman driven by hard work and a clean home. She was admired by all and loved by many and will never be forgotten by those who loved her. 

     In addition to her husband, Dr. Joseph L. Leoni, Helen was preceded by her eight siblings and her parents.

     Left to cherish the wonderful memories they share of her are her daughter, Corine L. Treslar of Shavertown; son-in-law, Theodore A. Treslar of Kingston; her four adoring granddaughters, Alexandra, Theadora, Josephina and Francesca; Several nieces and nephews including Anna Renae Williams and Joseph Bonczek, both of Wilkes-Barre, and many dear friends.

     Her family would like to extend their sincerest thank you-s to her caretakers: Nancy, Margaret, Maria and her homebound nurse Karen; and beloved longtime friends, Patty, David Andrew, Laura and Susan.

     Though we will continue on, nothing will be the same without her guidance, support, and love. We will forever remember her “teaching and preaching” and cherish her in our memories forever. 

     Per her wishes, funeral services for Mrs. Leoni will be held privately and at the convenience of her family with no formal visitation. Entombment will be next to her husband in Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum, 1594 South Main Street, Hanover Township.

     A memorial celebration of Helen’s life will be announced in the future, when it is again deemed safe to congregate.

     The John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes Inc. of Wilkes-Barre are honored to care for our friend, Mrs. Leoni and her family at this time.  

     In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, 600 River Ave Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

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