Brendan Leonard

It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Brendan E Leonard on Thursday, July 19th at 5:28pm. Brendan was born December 4th 1960 in New York City, New York to Brendan and Christina Leonard.

Brendan married his high school sweetheart Elaine and together they created a beautiful family of fourteen children over their 38 years together. Family was his number one priority. He put his family first and selflessly took care of them all. Brendan was fiercely and proudly 100% Irish.

Brendan devoted 34 hardworking years to the United States Postal Service. He made lifelong friends in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida at the different branches that he worked at. In his younger life he was a police officer and a volunteer firefighter and at the time was the youngest person in New York to be trained on the jaws of life at sixteen years old.

Brendan had an artistic eye, whether it was drawing, painting and most notably when it came to gardening. He created beautiful gardens for his wife and children to relax in and enjoy. He appreciated the beauty in God’s creations as he paired beautiful colors and flora together. There were beautiful life lessons he taught through the care for his garden that reflected in how he raised his children and nurtured them to grow.

Brendan was extremely intelligent and valued learning and education. You could hold a conversation with him about anything. He was so well rounded with a wealth of knowledge from history to politics to religion to fixing and building to the Latin names for all of his plants, he knew it all. Brendan loved to read and instilled this passion in his children. He graduated from high school with honors from Don Bosco Prep School in Ramsey, New Jersey. In his fifties his passion for learning drove him to pursue a college degree, which he proudly achieved with high honors and dean’s list in May 2017 from Daytona State College.

Brendan was a devout Catholic and drew strength from his faith. He referenced the bible to guide him in all seasons of life. His bible remains adorned with pressed rose petals and four leaf clovers, drawings from his children as well as prayer cards and meaningful notes. His bible is full of earmarks, highlights and circled passages. His relationship was so strong with the Lord.

Brendan battled cancer for the last six years of his life, fighting to be there for those he loved.

Brendan is survived by his beautiful wife Elaine Leonard, his children and their spouses Justine & Jonathan Wright, Colleen & Adam Webb, Jeannine Leonard & Carlton Winslow, Shannon & Thomas Loughery, Brendan & Brittney Leonard, Allison Leonard and Joey Layer, Kerry Leonard, Ryan Leonard, Matthew Leonard, Joseph Leonard, Kathleen Leonard, Daniel Leonard, Michael Leonard & Mary Claire Leonard. Brendan is also survived by his brother John Leonard & wife Maryann, and his sister Theresa Williams & husband Joseph. Brendan will be missed by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts & uncles. Additionally, Brendan has six beautiful grandchildren that knew him as Pops & will miss him dearly, Madison Leonard, Alexandria Leonard, Brendan Leonard, Brianna Winslow, Jude Leonard & Killian Loughery who is on his way.

He has touched so many lives and will be greatly missed by all.

Feel free to honor his memory through flowers for the service or donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, as he strongly believed in and supported their organization.