Obituary of Leo F. Needham

Leo F. Needham, 94, passed away on Sunday morning after a long and happy life. He was born in 1920 and spent his childhood in the Tipperary Hill area where he was nicknamed "Foggy". He married the love of his life, Olive Mae Throne in 1940, and they raised a family in Syracuse until her death in 1986. Leo entered the Army Air Corp in 1943 and served his country for 3 years. He worked his way up through Carrier Corporation from mail clerk to accounting, and retired in 1982 after 42 years of employment. He became an ordained deacon in the Roman Catholic Church on October 27, 1979, and specialized on working with widows and widowers. He faithfully served at Our Lady of Lourdes from mowing the lawn, working at their fish fries, mentoring students in their school, delivering food to soup kitchens, performing burials, marriages and baptisms, and helping serve mass. He especially loved his times at Pyramid Lake with his church family. Leo also loved his Yankees and SU sports. Although his own father left his family when he was young, Leo loved being a father to his 6 daughters. He managed to keep them together and acted as a single parent through some difficult early years, and his daughters are deeply grateful for that sacrifice. He enjoyed family trips with them over the past 12 years including, Colorado, Minnesota, Wolfe Island, and Cape Cod. Leo would always say "where angels travel, the sun follows" and his presence chased away many a storm. Leo is predeceased by his beloved wife, Olive, his brother, Robert and sister, Mary. He is survived by his six daughters: Janet (Dennis) McGraw; Mary Ann Clark of Amboy; Jean (Dan) Waldron; Lois (Rose Miller) Needham; Colleen Bader; and Jane Needham. He also had 4 granddaughters; Nicole Clark, Kristen Johnson, Chelsea Clark, and Amy Bader, a grandson, Casey Bader, and 4 great grandsons; Tristan, Liam, Soren and Nikolai. Services will be Friday, February 20, 2015 at 10am at Our Lady of Lourdes, Valley Drive. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 7pm, with a vigil service at 7pm at the Edward J. Ryan and Son Funeral Home, 3180 Bellevue Ave., Syracuse. Burial will be in Onondaga Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Humane Society; 4915 1/2 W. Taft Rd., Liverpool, NY 13088 and Boys Town; Boys Town National Headquarters, 200 Flanagan Boulevard, PO Box 8000, Boys Town, NE 68010.