Monica Kilkelly Leggett

Monica was born to Monica Brett Kilkelly and Robert Kilkelly on March 15, 1931. She and her brothers, Bob Kilkelly and Jack Kilkelly, grew up on the west side of Los Angeles. Monica attended St. Mary’s Academy High School and Mount St. Mary’s College where she met her future husband, Donald Leggett, from Loyola University.

Monica and Don were married in 1951 and a few years later moved to Covina, CA where they raised their two children, Theresa and Michael. They were very involved with the newly developed city of Covina where Don was mayor at the time of his death from leukemia in 1959.

Don was among the first in our country to receive a bone marrow transplant in Cooperstown, New York, under the direction of Dr. E. Donnall Thomas.

Dr. Thomas subsequently was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his development of bone marrow transplantation. Don and Monica showed great courage in traveling to New York to become a pioneer in this effort.

Her children will always be grateful to her for the steadfastness she showed while raising them as a single parent. Monica truly embodied the values of her remarkable generation, exemplifying the duty, loyalty, and work ethic that distinguished her great generation.

In 1970, Monica moved her family back to West Los Angeles to pursue more varied career opportunities. After many years, she retired from IBM in 1992 where she was the Executive Secretary to the General Manager of the western region. She was very proud of that achievement.

In 2008, Monica moved to San Diego to be closer to her family. Her new Oaks North neighborhood in Rancho Bernardo was very welcoming to her and she enjoyed many great friendships there over the years.

Monica is survived by her daughter, Theresa Boyle (Stephen), son, Michael Leggett (Tracy), and grandchildren, Katherine Dunn (Kevin), Brendan Boyle, and Mackenzie Leggett.

Her great grandchildren, Rory Dunn, Theodore Dunn, and Bridget Dunn will also miss her very much.

She was Aunt Monie to several nieces and nephews whose relationships she valued over the years.

Monica is predeceased by her husband, Donald Leggett, and her brothers, Robert Kilkelly and John (Jack) Kilkelly.

Monie will be remembered for her wit, independent spirit, love of her family, and her love of Notre Dame football. Go Irish!

Monica’s Funeral Mass will be

Saturday, June 13th at 11:00 am

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church

11451 Blue Cypress Drive

San Diego 92131

If interested in making a donation in Monica’s honor, please consider:

Father Joe’s Villages

my.neighbor.org

3350 E Street

San Diego, CA 92102

Rise Up Industries

riseupindustries.org

5275 Market St.

San Diego, CA 92114