Frances Marie Leone

Frances was born on October 27, 1942, to Stephana (Turk) Cerne and Frank Aloysius Cerne in Indianapolis, Indiana. Frances attended St. Mary Academy high school where she was junior and senior class president. She went on to study nursing at Marian College and received her degree from St. Vincent School of Nursing. In 1965, she earned a BS degree in Nursing from Saint Louis University where she was a proud Billiken. She furthered her education by receiving an MS degree in Nursing from Indiana University and became among the first nurse practitioners in the state of Indiana.

Her nursing career was varied and lengthy, beginning at Firmin Deloge Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri where she worked in post-op cardiac surgery with, at that time, pioneering surgeons in open heart surgery. Returning to Indianapolis, she worked at St. Vincent Hospital for 8 years as a labor and delivery nurse and in her spare time was a nursing instructor at St. Vincent Hospital and Indiana University School of Nursing. She found her passion as a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Women’s Health for 23 years. After a hard-fought battle in the legislature, Frances was very proud to be one of the first 10 nurse practitioners to receive prescription privileges in Indiana.

Frances had numerous diverse interests and was always game for a new adventure. She and her husband, Joe, traveled extensively, visiting six out of seven world continents. Frances was an avid cyclist and hiker. For many years, she was a member of The Indianapolis Hiking Club, clocking almost five thousand miles. She loved going to an afternoon movie, out to lunch with friends, shopping with her sister, wine, and dancing. She had an incredible zest for life and a contagious laugh.

Frances is survived by her husband of 57 years, Joseph A. Leone, her three sons, Joseph M. Leone (Karen), Dr. Michael Leone (Jessica) and Kevin Leone (Stephanie) and by her grandchildren, Joseph G. Leone (Fianceé Isabella), Nikolos Leone, Diogenes Leone, Antigone Leone, and Remi Leone. She is further survived by her sister, Nancy Yovanovich (Alex), brother-in-law, Dr. John Leone (Regina), and several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and close friends.

Frances was a devoted, caring, loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and a friend to all she met. Her never-ending love for her husband, Joe, will be with him forever. She will be sorely missed.

Visitation for Frances will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, August 14, 2023 at Feeney Hornak Keystone Mortuary, 2126 E. 71st St., Indianapolis, IN, 46220 after which time a short memorial service will be held.

Contributions can be made to Sisters of St. Francis, 22143 Main St., Oldenburg, IN 47036, Nursing Scholarship at Marian University www.Marian.edu/memorials, or Michael J Fox Foundation in memory of Frances M Leone https://www.michaeljfox.org/