Renee T. Leone

On May 23, 1956, a star was born. This star shone brightly throughout her 67 years bringing laughter and love to those who crossed her path. Then on January 18, 2024, that star found her way into heaven after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Renee Terry Leone was the youngest of Stanley and Cecile (Ledoux) Terry’s six children. An educator and administrator for the Naugatuck Board of Education, Renee delighted her students for over 30 years with her dynamic and creative instructional style, especially in her reading class. Her lively costumes, impromptu songs, dramatic dialects, and legendary performances captivated her students. Understandably, when Ms. Leone told her students to read, read they did!

Outside of the classroom, Renee’s active lifestyle included travel, golf leagues, and setback tournaments to name a few. In addition, her competitive spirit resulted in many “wins” on the course and at the card table. Renee was a dedicated supporter of various breast cancer non-profits specifically Are You Dense, Inc. and Seymour Pink. In fact, her enthusiastic service earned Renee last years Are You Dense Volunteer Award. Above all, she cherished every moment spent with her beloved granddaughter, Isabella (Bella) Leone.

Renee is survived by her children, Marc Leone and Nicole Renee Leone, her granddaughter, Isabella Leone, Bella’s mom, Nicole Platt, several siblings and their spouses, a devoted sister-in-law, Theresa Terry, many nieces and nephews, extended family, and supportive friends.

Aside from her parents, Renee is predeceased by her brother John, and nephews, John Jr., and Christopher Terry.

Special thanks to the many angels at the Harold Leever Center who helped her throughout her 15-year journey with cancer. Renee deeply appreciated the standard of care she received and the comfort it brought right up to the last visit. God Bless them all for what they do.

To celebrate our dear Renee, a mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, 785 Highland Ave, Waterbury, CT. It is kindly requested that all planning to attend meet directly at the church. Burial will immediately follow at St. James Cemetery in Naugatuck, CT. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Are You Dense, Inc., 96 Rowey Rd. Woodbury, CT 06798; Seymour Pink, 3 Franklin Street, Seymour, CT 06483; The Pink Chair Project, P.O. Box 601, Southbury, CT 06488 or to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Annual Fund, 645 Congress Ave, Waterbury, CT 06708. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow Street, has care of the arrangements.

And now, when you look at the stars, remember that one of them, our dear Renee, made so many of us smile!