Arlene P. Leonard

Waltham – Mrs. Arlene P. (Goddard) Leonard, of Waltham, died Friday, January 18, 2013 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, four days shy of her 69th birthday.

Arlene was born in Waltham on January 22, 1944, the only child of the late Roy W. and Lydia A. (Carson) Goddard. She was raised in Waltham and was a 1962 graduate of Waltham High School. She and her family had been longtime members of Lakeview Congregational Church.

She and her family moved to West Newton where they lived for a number of years before returning to Waltham in 1991. For the past thirty-two years Arlene worked as the secretary in the office at the Fessenden School in Newton where, as the first to greet visitors in person or on the phone, she was described as the 'Voice of Fessenden'.

Arlene had been a member of Newton Presbyterian Church and she and her late husband, Bob, were longtime members of NAFCA, the National American Family Camper's Association, Chapter 177, known by its members as the 'Weekend Wanderers'.

Her husband, Robert K. Leonard, died October 26, 2009.

She leaves her children, Lynda M. Barnett of Georgia, Cynthia A. McLaughlin and her husband, Paul, of Whitinsville, Julie A. Delicata of Watertown, Robin L. Leonard of Newton, Kimberlee A. Gillis and her husband, Dana, and Meredith A. Leonard, all of Waltham; her grandchildren, Ricky Hanright, Michelle Norwood, Daniel and Marco Delicata, Steven and Michael Leonard and Liam Gillis; her cousin, Sharon Leaman and her husband, Bud, of Waltham and their children, Lori Kearney and Chris Leaman and 7 great-grandchildren.

Arlene was also the mother-in-law of the late Paul Delicata.

Family and friends will honor and remember Arlene's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, January 22nd, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Wednesday morning in Newton Presbyterian Church, 75 Vernon Street, Newton where her Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.