Joyce Leonard

Joyce Ponzo Leonard, age 87, of Hobart, IN., passed away peacefully with family at her side on Monday, August 4, 2025, at St. Mary Medical Center. Visitation will take place at Rees Funeral Home at 600 West Old Ridge Road in Hobart on Sunday, August 10 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday August 11 at Hobart Presbyterian Church, 60 N. Washington, Hobart, followed by burial at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville, IN.

Born July 6, 1938, in Gary, IN., to Bronco and Veronica Ponzo, Joyce graduated from Lew Wallace High School in 1956. After high school, she met Thomas C. Leonard, of Hobart, at a park dance on a summer night in Glen Park. They married in August 1959, moving to New York City for his military posting before settling in Hobart and having and raising their three sons. Joyce loved singing, playing piano, and served as a deacon and choir director for Hobart Presbyterian Church. Joyce and family enjoyed yearly summer vacations at Cisco Lake in the UP of Michigan where - to Tom's consternation - she often caught the largest fish.

Joyce is survived by her husband Tom, her three sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff and Krista of Raleigh, NC, Gary and Ellen of Evanston, IL, and Gregg and Keiko of Tualatin, OR.; her sister and brother-in-law Elaine and John DeVaney; brother and sister-in-law David and Barbara Ponzo as well as her two grandchildren, Rowan and Conor. She is also survived by her beloved cat Tilly.