Dorothy C. Leonard

Dorothy “Dot” Coakley Leonard of Cranford, NJ, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2026.  She will be deeply missed by those who knew her.

One of five children, Dot was born to her loving parents, Mary and Joseph Coakley.  She was raised in Elizabeth, NJ, where she graduated from St. Mary’s High School and remained a proud Hilltopper to the end.  She met fellow Elizabethan and her wonderful husband of 61 years, John “Ponce” “Jack” Leonard, with whom she has now been reunited. 

Dot and Ponce moved to Cranford, NJ in 1954.  Throughout her life, she held a variety of jobs, though her true calling was lovingly raising 5 children.  She was also blessed with 8 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnephews & nieces, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and countless friends of all stripes.  Dot made a lovely home where all were welcome.  She was also a devout Catholic, eventually becoming a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Rosary Society.

Dot was a social butterfly whose many connections took her on quite a few adventures, both locally and to as far as her ancestral home of Cork, Ireland.  An avid reader, Dot devoured mainly history books and presidential biographies with a good dose of Louise Penny mysteries mixed in. Many of the people in her life considered her an unofficial Kennedy Family historian.  Her encyclopedic knowledge of history and current events had her clearing many a Jeopardy panel.  The many people in her life depended on her for her voluminous wisdom, fantastic advice and a wit worthy of a late-night comedy show.

A perfect day for Dot was sitting out on her deck on a sunny, mild day, reading a great book, drinking an iced tea and eating a tasty treat to satisfy her legendary sweet tooth.  She was always thrilled to welcome a drop in relative or friend.  She left a lasting impression to all who came in contact with her.

A funeral mass in Dot’s memory will be held June 20th at Saint Raphael’s 346 E Mt Pleasant Ave, Livingston, NJ 07039.  Visitation at 10am, Mass at 11am. Burial will follow at Saint Gertrude cemetery, 53 Inman Avenue, Colonia, NJ 07067. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dot’s name to Serenity Hospice https://serenityhospice.org/donate/ or  Special Olympics of New Jersey https://support.specialolympics.org/a/new-jersey?ms=IDMP_DB&utm_source=donatebtn&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=IDMP

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorothy C. Leonard, please visit our floral store.