Sara Aileen Cecilia Britton Leehey

SARA AILEEN CECILIA BRITTON LEEHEY, passed on to our LORD and SAVIOR on January 27, 2020. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1931, the youngest of four daughters to George Henry and Loretta Wade Britton, and ninth child of George, she was raised in Poughkeepsie New York, and attended Marymount College, New York where she met the love of her life West Point Cadet Donald James Leehey, Jr., Lt. Col. Ret (deceased 2007). They married at West Point in 1951 and lovingly produced six sons (and daughters in law) Donald III (Emy), Paul (Gail), John (Natalia), Mark (Joyce), Kevin (Vicki) and Keith (Becky). Sara and Don were devoted Grandparents to John (Becka), Sara, Ryan, Elizabeth, Sage, Whitney (Tanner), Brandon, Shara (David), Kara (Kaleb), Donald IV, Wade, Gabriel, Leah, Sean, Nicholas, Matthew and Andrew, and adored great grandparents to Kolt, Raelyn, Kane, Leo and Hannah. Sara was a devoted military wife who during her first 20 years of marriage created 21 homes for her family, including in Texas, Washington D.C., Virginia, Japan, New Mexico, Missouri, Oklahoma, Washington, D.C., Taiwan, and Hawaii. In 1972, after Don spent a year in Vietnam, they were transferred to West Hills, California where they retired from the military in 1973. She supported Don in a new career in real estate with Coldwell Banker, became very active in St. Bernardine of Siena Catholic Church and continued to raise and support their sons. Sara was fortunate to have the joy of her sons, their wives, and grandchildren live nearby so that she could be an active part of their lives. Sara’s loving heart is shown in the close relationships she developed over the years, especially with neighbors and friends during her years in West Hills and as a devoted Catholic. She was creative in her crafts and artwork and wrote inspired poetry. But Sara’s stated purpose and goal in life was to marry a wonderful man and raise a family. She most certainly met that goal. Her kind and gentle nature as well as her family legacy will carry on for years to come.

A Memorial Mass, followed by a Celebration of Life reception in the Parish Hall, will be held on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2020 at 10 am at St. Bernardine of Siena Catholic Church at 24410 Calvert St. Woodland Hills CA 91367.