Myrna "Rachel" Leotta

Rachel was born on September 10, 1946 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Due to parental hardship, she was sent to Brooklyn, NY to live with her aunt and uncle. She graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1964 and eventually joined the Young Adult Club at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church. It is there where she met the love of her life, Gus Leotta. In fact, she proposed to him!

Rachel held many jobs in her life … positions at Blue Cross Blue Shield, Waterview Nursing Home, Sterling Elementary School, and at local daycare. However, she would likely say that her most important work was being an exceptional mother to Jennifer and Gus. She taught them how to live and how to love — not through verbal instruction; instead she modeled it in her every day actions. She gave them her undivided attention. She was a spirited and joyful individual with a loud voice and contagious laugh and always seized an opportunity to celebrate others and life itself. She loved children most of all, followed closely by animals, and our beautiful Earth. Rachel was a thrill seeker … she climbed trees, enjoyed the most intense roller coasters, climbed Half Dome in Yosemite well into her 50s, and even went sky diving 3 times! There is no doubt that by now she has already completed her 4th jump, this time with angel wings.

Rachel is survived by her devoted husband of 55 wonderful, glorious years, Gus; her children, Jennifer (Ricardo) and Gus (Zoila); and her grandchildren, Charlene, Leonardo, and Isaac. She was preceded in death by her mother, Amparo and her father, Santiago.

Visitation will be held Sunday, April 6, 2025 from 5 to 7 pm at McEwen Funeral Service-Pineville Chapel. On Monday, April 7 at 11:30 am, there will be a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church followed by a burial at Forest Lawn East Cemetery at 1:30 pm. Should you choose to attend any of the services, please wear something colorful.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a children’s charity of your choosing.