Leslie Ann DiPasqua Goldman

GOLDMAN, Leslie Ann (DiPasqua), 54, of Henrico, Va., died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on February 20, 2016. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, cousin, and friend, she was preceded in death by her grandparents, Philip and Libbie DiPasqua, of Rochester, N.Y., and Amalia and Max Berger, of Salzburg, Austria. Leslie is survived by her husband, James “Jim” Flanary, the love of her life. The two cherished each other, and Jim’s love for Leslie was never more evident than during the past year while Leslie was seriously ill. Born in Rochester, N.Y. on July 26, 1961, Leslie was the daughter of Louis and Theresia DiPasqua of Manakin-Sabot, Va. Leslie was outgoing, loving, and kind, and generous with everyone whose life she touched. A free spirit, she loved to laugh, and she had a wonderful sense of humor. She loved deeply, and her love touched many, many people. Leslie spent much of her youth in St. Louis, Mo., where the DiPasqua family lived from 1966-1977. She adored St. Louis—including Lindbergh High School, where she made lifelong friends and was a cheerleader. When the family moved to Cumberland, Md. in 1977, Leslie made more dear friends—this time at Bishop Walsh High School, where she graduated in 1979. In 1984, Leslie graduated from Frostburg State University with a degree in psychology. As with all the people she loved, her college friends were a vital part of her life and brought her much joy. Leslie had a 30-year career as a realtor in the Richmond area, where she was well-known for her energy, professionalism, and positive attitude. In her personal life, Leslie lived wholeheartedly. She was fully committed to family and friends, and she rarely met a stranger. She was a devoted member of Hope Church, where she gave countless hours of service, and where she was an energetic, supportive presence to her fellow parishioners. In May 2015, Leslie was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She endured months of painful treatments, but continued to make her family and friends the center of her world. She will be deeply missed. In addition to her husband and parents, Leslie is survived by her son, Thomas Goldman, of Richmond; her husband’s children, Daniel Flanary of New York, N.Y., and Lauren Smith (Shepard) of Charlotte, N.C.; her sisters, Suzanne Thomas (Michael), of Springfield, Mo.; Kathryn DiPasqua , of Henrico; and Marla Sulmonte, of Frederick, Md.; her nieces, Andrea Robinson, of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Sarah Thomas, of St. Louis, Mo.; her nephews, Dr. Anthony Robinson (Brandi) and their daughter, Claire, of State College, Pa.; Jonathan Thomas, of Washington, D.C.; and Giancarlo Sulmonte, of Frederick, Md.; her uncle, Alfred DiPasqua, and cousins Nicholas Agnello and Laurie Agnello, of Rochester, N.Y.; her aunt, Veronika Stein, of Salzburg, Austria; her cousin Peter Stein (Bozena), and their daughter, Olivia Stein, of Vienna, Austria; her cousin, Helga Bichler (Fritz) of Salzburg; and countless friends. Visitation will take place on Thursday, February 25, 2016 from 5-8 p.m. at The Parham Chapel-Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Road, Richmond, VA, 23229. Burial will be private. A Celebration of Life will take place at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at Hope Church, 12445 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23238. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to one of the following in Leslie’s honor: Massey Cancer Center (massey.vcu.edu), CaringBridge (caringbridge.org), or Hope Church (hopecentral.com). The family is grateful to all of Leslie’s friends, who supported her in innumerable ways throughout her lifetime, and especially during her illness. To the nurses and doctors at the VCU Massey Cancer Center and the VCU Critical Care Hospital, we offer our heartfelt thanks for your expert care and gentle manner.