Theodora Jackson Leighton

South Portland – Theodora J. Leighton, 91, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2024, at her residence in South Portland. Teddi was born in Portland on August 7, 1933, the youngest of the seven children of George P. and Mabel A. (Anderson) Jackson. She attended Portland schools, graduating from Deering High School in 1951. She also attended Northeastern Business College.

Teddi married in 1953, but that marriage ended in divorce in 1964, leaving her to raise her three children as a single mother. Teddi worked for 27 years at the former Casco Bank/Bank of Boston and spent the next eight years at the Maine Credit Union League in Westbrook. She held down two jobs for twenty years, working at the former Cinema City in Westbrook, and Jordan Marsh (Macy’s) and Shaw’s, both in South Portland.

Teddi enjoyed doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles and playing Scrabble and card games. She was also known to travel to casinos to play the slots. She was happiest doing things with her grandchildren, including many trips to Disney World. She enjoyed watching sports, especially the Red Sox, Patriots and tennis. She was a 50-plus year member of the First Congregational Church in South Portland and attended Basics Fitness Center in South Portland for many years.

Teddi was predeceased by her parents and all six siblings, three sisters: Elizabeth Horn, Hazel Barbour, and Lottie Tornquist, and three brothers: George Jr., Charles, and Edward Jackson--as well as a grandson, William Holman. Survivors include a daughter, Kathleen Bombaro and husband Paul of Gorham, son Norman Leighton and wife Katherine Walker-Leighton of Limerick, and son Paul Leighton and wife Elaine Kuzyk of Cape Cod, MA. and Bradenton, FL. Surviving grandchildren are Joshua Schildroth, John Holman, Cole Leighton, Andrew Leighton, Karen Bombaro, Theresa Fuller, Daniel Kuzyk, Becka Stasny, and Betsey Ruidiaz. Teddi is also survived by six great- grandchildren and several nieces and nephews (including a special niece Paula Barbour-Brennan).

Teddi Leighton was much loved, and her family members cared for her during her final illness. This was a fitting reward for her always loving nature, as a daughter, sister, friend, aunt, and then mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She kept up with her childhood friends, and she played cards with her work friends until recently. She made sure her late siblings’ children knew each other as cousins into adulthood. She tolerated all differences and was always encouraging to the younger generations. She will be greatly missed.

Special thanks to those not mentioned above who helped to care for Teddi: “in-laws” Chase Fuller and Gigi Gabor, friend Cathy Philbrick, Dr. Scott Patch of Intermed, and Hospice of Southern Maine.

Memorial visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on January 3, 2025, at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland, ME 04103.

Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Theodora's online guest book.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.