Leila O. Whalen

Leila was born August 15, 1934 in Waterbury, CT to Mary and William O’Connor. She was predeceased by her parents. Leila graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, and from UConn in 1956, majoring in Home Economics. She married her husband of fifty-four years, Jim, in 1959. They raised their family in Greenwich, CT. She attended daily mass, and was a longtime member of the St. Michael’s Ladies Altar Guild. She was a former member of the Milbrook Club.

Leila was an loving wife, mother and friend. She created a beautiful home and was an amazing hostess, cooking wonderful meals for family and friends. She was an excellent pianist, as well as a quilter, knitter, and volunteer at the Greenwich Garden Center.

Leila is survived by daughter Leila and her husband Philip Longo of Manasquan, NJ; son James F. Whalen and his wife Deborah of Wilmette, IL and daughter Mary Whalen(Gregory Howe) of Branford, CT. She is also survived by her sister Roberta Smolskis, of Southbury, CT, and brother George M. O’Connor (Jeanne O’Connor) of Dayton, OH, and many nieces and nephews. Her beloved eleven grandchildren include Elizabeth(Brian Zied), Kevin(Sarah McCrorey), Connor and Brian Longo; Corey, Seamus, Aregash and Deginet Whalen, and Leila(David Yeager), Brendan and Aidan Strebel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 11am. Burial will take place in St. Mary-Putnam Cemetery, Greenwich, CT.