M. Leona Duquette

Waltham – Mrs. M. Leona (Ivy) (LeBlanc) Duquette, of Waltham, died Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She was 91.

Leona was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia to the late James and Elizabeth (Poirier) Ivy. She immigrated to the United States in 1950 and became a lifelong Waltham resident.

She was a beloved waitress at the Chateau Restaurant on School Street for more than 35 years until her retirement. There she made many cherished friends with her co-workers and customers, and always greeted her guests with a smile and warm welcome.

She loved to dance and escape the cold New England winters with vacation visits to Boynton Beach, Florida. Leona was also well-known by family and neighbors for her famous 'world renowned' home-made bread.

Leona was the wife of the late J. Douglas LeBlanc (✝1977) and Arthur Duquette (✝2011), mother of the late Daniel LeBlanc, and the sister of the late Thomas Ivy and E. Germaine Aucoin.

She leaves her children, Denise M. Gallagher of Waltham, Thomas W. LeBlanc (Teri) of Phoenix, Arizona, and Nanette Wojtaszek (Kenneth) of Vero Beach, Florida; her grandchildren, Erin L. Gallagher, Kevin J. Gallagher, Christopher LeBlanc, and Andrew LeBlanc (Anna); her great-grandchildren, Elliot and Chloe LeBlanc; and her brother Donald Ivy (Jeanine) of Boynton Beach, Florida.

Family and friends will honor and remember Leona's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, (Rte. 20) Waltham, on Sunday, March 13th from 3 to 5 p.m. and again Monday morning at 9 a.m. before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be private.