WE only heard today( living in Austria) that you had passed..Words cannot express how much you meant to Liz and as her parents ,we appreciated so much all your wonderful work and friendship.You will always be in our hearts and some day we will meet again.God has a plan and he must have needed the best person to organise it for him....

Rhona, I will miss you as a sister and as a caring person, my daughters enjoyed the arts and crafts you encouraged them to try. They recall the exotic foods you exposed them to. love,always. your brother.


Rhona and I were both eleven or so in the summer of 1964.  I had come from Detroit  to spend a piece of that summer in Brooklyn. While together we grew closer  and i learned from her how to be strong-minded and independent.   Together, just the two of us, we took trains to Radio City Music Hall, Coney Island, Prospect Park and even the Worlds Fair. We spent hours in lines to see exhibits and had a grand adventure. At eleven and a half, she was my personal tour guide around New York! At Coney Island we wandered the Boardwalk, looked out at the vastness of the ocean and went on the Bobsled, her favorite ride---which I also got to love.

Now, as an adult, I am amazed that two eleven year old girls could do what we did and I know it was possible only because Rhona was who she was--strong, fearless, knowledgable and competent---even then. 

I tell this story because Rhona and I fell out of touch for some decades.  As I read the notes now from those of you who knew her more recently it becomes clear that she stayed strong and true to herself all through her life. which is a pleasure for me to know.  Those of you who've known her only more recently may enjoy knowing that she has ALWAYS been the person you came to know.  

Her life ended all too soon. 
             _____________________

Rhona...you were a beautiful person that commited random acts of kindness and love which many people were unaware of each day.From kind and loving gestures in which you treated everyone as unique individuals. You will definelty be missed as a YAI family member.  We will always remember you, Rhona.. May God Bless your soul, your husband John and family.  We love you, Rhona.

The McCall family sends our condolences to Leong family.  Rhona will be missed.

What a sad time for YAI and family.I am praying for everyone to recover.  Rhona had one of those giant hearts and affected everyone.

I had the pleasure of knowing Rhona for the past 12 years. She is now an angel in heaven as she was in life. I will miss our long talks and her words of encouragement to me. I admired her devotion to the population we serve everyday. My thoughts and prayers are with her husband and family!

For the past 12 years I had the pleasure of working with Rhona. She was a very nice person with a huge heart. I personally will miss her walking down the hallways of Manhattan Day. I will miss our talks and her words of encouragement.  Rhona is an angel to me who was so devoted to the population we serve and she will be so greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her husband and family.

Rhona a unique person with such an enormous heart.  Always taking a moment of her busy day to take a consumer out to lunch or lending a helping hand to her staff. Her dedication to her job especially her admiration and love to our consumers will be missed by the YAI family.  My condolences to her husband and family. Forever in our heart and memory.

The world lost a Amazing angel ...I am devastated...So sad...I wish here to rest in peace and bliss

I knew Rhona when she was a teenager.  Someone here described her as "unique."  That is correct.  She was smart, sassy and could be funny.  Most importantly, she was dedicated to whatever she set her mind to.  I am sorry she is gone and my sincerest condolences to her husband.

Estelle Lewis

To the family of Rhona. My deepest smypathies to you. I will be praying for you all.

Rhona,  A unique, special dedicated and valued coworker.  I will miss her  very much.  I certain that if there is a way for her to do so she will continue to be present at the Manhattan Day Service (in a spiritual way) watching over everyone.  I consider myself fortunate to have known her.  My condolenses to her family.

Rhona you will be miss you was the kindness unselfish person I meet

Rhona was such a unique person and touched so many people with her thoughtful and caring ways. The way she put her heart and soul into her work and the people she cared for is an inspiration to me and to all who worked with her.  She will truly be missed.

May your beautiful soul rest in peace..You will be truly missed..

Rhona's dedication and compassion for the individual's she worked with is one that is a testament to the kind, loving, sweet person she was both personally and professionally.  YAI is at a loss.....may her family and friends find solace in their fond memories of her.

A truly selfless individual, who used her time to make others feel important.She will be deeply missed at Manhattan Day.

Rhonda was a person that dedicated her life to people who were less fortunate than her, and that in itself makes her a saint. She was one of those people you could rely on for anything and would go above and beyond for everyone in her life. She will be truly missed by all. My condolences to family and friends.

There are many people you cross paths with throughout your life. The memory of some fade, while others leave a meaningful impression. Rhona has left an meaningful impression on me, I will forever cherish her. I admired her honesty, sass &  wittiness. Rhona was a role model and dedicated coworker who enjoyed assisting the individuals she worked with. Rhona was someone I could talk too & she got it, smiles. I am blessed to say I knew her. My prayers and sympathy is with the family, be encouraged, Rhona has more than earned her Angel wings.

To John and Rhona's family:
     I'm so sorry for your loss.  I've worked with Rhona for about four years.  In those four years, I've seen her hard work and dedication in addition to the big heart that she had for the consumers that she worked with.  She always went above and beyond when it came to taking care of their needs.  While it is hard to believe that she is no longer with us, I hope you will have comfort knowing that she is, paraphrasing one of her consumers, "with the angels now".  Rhona will truly be missed.

Rhona was such a sweet loving person with a wonderful heart. Yai will not be the same without her. I will truly miss her and the kind gentle soul that she was. May she rest in peace.

Rhona was a generous soul who not only shared things from her garden with people.  She shared her TIME with individuals who have special needs. She touched the lives of many people who looked up to her. She was a friend, companion and advocate to individuals who adored her.  Her presence will be missed by many. IN my years of servicing individuals with special needs I have never met another person who was as dedicated to her job as Rhona. Her time was selflessly devoted to people. May she rest in Peace...

What I will remember most about Rhona was her thoughtfulness. Everything she did came from a pure place. Who else will leave a book in my mailbox just because the character had my name? She LOVED to give. Classic Rhona. I pray that her family and friends have the strength to press on during this difficult time. Her YAI family will definitely miss 
her.

Rhona dedicated every working hour to the community of disabilities. A testament to her soul and a legacy for the ages

To the family of Rhona
I am so sorry for your loss. Rhona will truly be missed, always loved and remembered throughout, the YAI family.

Rhona was such a dear and special person, completely unique and loving and wonderful. It is difficult to believe that she is gone. 
She is forever in our hearts,

OBITUARY

Rhona Leong

July 27, 1952 – January 1, 2013

Joseph G. Duffy

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