Mario A. Leto

Mario A. Leto, 78, passed away January 5, 2015. Beloved husband of 53 years to Rosmary nee Poppenhager; Loving father to Julie (Tom) Staehely, James (Sonya) Leto and Mario (Shiori) Leto II; Cherished grandfather of Trevor Staehely, Alex Staehely, Autumn Leto, Dominic Leto, Aaron Staehely, Sora Leto, and Niko Leto; Dear brother of Rose Ann (the late Jim) Seroka and Sue (Dick) Elias; Fond uncle and friend to many. Memorial visitation at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Lisle (on the corner of Kingston and Front St.) on Monday, January 12, 2015 from 10:45 until time of Mass at 11:15am. Interment private. For information call the funeral home at (630) 964-9392.

Mario Leto grew up in Streator Illinois amongst a small, Italian community. As a youth he could be found tossing newspapers on his morning route, kneading dough at his Uncle's pizzeria, twisting at the high school sock hops, or working shifts at Owen's Glass factory. Always proud of his Sicilian heritage, he never missed a home cooked Italian meal, sometimes even wearing it on his under shirt. He was an equally proud Marine as evidenced by the military tattoo he guarded on his arm. After instructing at the rifle range and achieving the rank of Sergeant, Mario was honorably discharged from the USMC.

In his 40+ years of employment he followed various career paths, including Data Processing/Analyst, Custodian, Locksmith and Facility Maintenance. Holding true to his ideals, he was a lifetime NRA member, a staunch Republican, and a devout Christian, meaning he was never without a gun, his Bible, or his opinion. In his free time, Mario enjoyed ballroom dancing with his wife, hunting, photography, motorcycling, coin collecting and gardening. He was a sports fanatic and never missed a chance to watch the Cubs, Bears, Bulls, or his children's, and later, grandchildren's sporting events.

Mario was a simple man who found joy in life's little moments. He encouraged his children to succeed beyond himself, and offered countless words of advice through their formative years. Mario's life, though typical and routine, always contained moments of travel and adventure. He has fumbled with chopsticks and survived a Tsunami in Japan; driven countless miles across North American highways and traversed the savannahs of southern Africa. But none of his life's triumphs can compare to reaching his 50th wedding anniversary, where he stood with his love, Rosmary, in front of family, community, and God to remind all of the endurance and rewards a marriage can offer.

As all stories do, his also ended, robbing Mario of having his skin kissed by the Mediterranean sun among the vineyards of Sicilia; witnessing the Cubs win a World Series; taking his brand new pickup truck for a dusty drive down a country road; cruising the Oceans; or winning the Million Dollar Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. The man loved deeply, played unapologetically, laughed hard and lived a long, rewarding and fulfilling life. He will be missed by many, but shall live on through the warm, lasting, and cherished memories left behind in his final vacancy.

In lieu of flowers the family requests money be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.

http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp