Leanne Marie Ruggero

Leanne Marie Ruggero, age 72, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2025. Born on April 11, 1953, in Royal Oak, Michigan, to the late Leroy and the late Joyce Nelson, Leanne lived a full and beautiful life filled with love, laughter, and curiosity.

For 53 wonderful years, she was the devoted wife and best friend of Frank Ruggero. Together they built a life rooted in love, adventure, and family. She was the loving mother of Carrie Anne (Jim) Thorpe and Jaime Lynne (Jared) Jenkins, and the proud grandmother of Brenna, Nick, Lexi, Kate, and Lucas, each of whom she adored and supported in everything they did. Leanne was the dear sister of Kevin (Cathy), Nelson and Heather (Greg) Coach, and the cherished aunt of many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her loyal dog, Shadow, and was preceded in death by her beloved pups Rascal, Freckles, and Chloe.

Leanne had a lifelong love of learning and could often be found with a book in hand. She believed in the magic of libraries and if she was curious about something, she’d go look it up and read all about it. She enjoyed trips to the movies with Frank, adventures across the country visiting national parks, and cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska. She especially loved the “big views,” never shying away from a tall overlook.

A talented and patient needlepoint, cross stitch and crochet artist, Leanne found joy and calm in creating beautiful pieces for her loved ones. Her work reflected her attention to detail, creativity, and the care she put into everything she did.

Whether “glamping” at Lakeshore Resorts near Davidson, cheering on her local grandkids at their events, or traveling to visit her out-of-state grandchildren, Leanne embraced every moment with enthusiasm. At home, she rooted for her favorite hockey and basketball teams, listened to classic rock, soft rock, pop and music from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. She enjoyed playing video games, especially Nintendo classics like The Legend of Zelda and the competitive Dr. Mario, where her family knew to watch out for her playful determination.

Leanne’s warmth, curiosity, and joyful spirit touched everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered for her love of family, her sense of adventure, and her passion for life’s simple pleasures.

A Memorial Instate will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 9:00 am until the time of the memorial service at 10:00 am at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, located at 32000 Schoenherr Rd, Warren, MI, 48088, US.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Leanne Marie Ruggero may be made to The Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, located at 16121 Reckinger Road, Dearborn, Michigan, 48126, US. Donations can also be made online at https://www.metrodetroitanimals.org/donate/.