Date of Birth: November 14, 1926
Date of Death: March 26, 2019
George Patrick LeBlanc of Sun City, Arizona and Kinnelon, New Jersey entered into eternal life, after a brief illness, on March 26, 2019, at the age of 92. He was born in Detroit, MI in 1926, the 4th of nine children. He spent his childhood years in Detroit and Grosse Ile, Michigan. He was drafted into the Navy directly from high school during World War II, where he attended the Naval Academy Prep School. Upon completing his naval service, he graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Foreign Service. In 1950 he joined the Society of St. Paul the Apostle and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1957 where his ministry included hospitals, young adult groups, parish work, university ministry and mission preaching. He joined the IBM Corporation in 1968 and married Valerie Foster in 1970. George and Valerie were snowbirds, living in both New Jersey and Arizona. George's volunteer ministries included: teaching Spanish, tutoring, hospice volunteer, ESL tutor, the Sun City Prides, numerous church ministries, performing weddings, and crisis hotline volunteer. He was known for his gentleness, loving heart, great sense of humor, warm embracing hugs, generosity, sports ability, carrot cake, and joy in living. He greeted each day noting that he was very happy to be "on the right side of the grass" and ended each day telling Valerie that he loved her. He and Valerie traveled extensively during their 48 years of marriage. George loved dancing, eating out, serving God, attending progressive Catholic conferences, reading, theater, movies, watching any sport (and playing most of them), and especially being with "his bride". He is survived by his spouse, Valerie; sisters Nancy (O'Brien) and June (Webb); 19 nieces and nephews; and 3 god-children.
Service Information
Celebration of Life: Monday, April 15, 2019 at 3:00 - 5:00 pm Best Funeral Services 9380 W. Peoria Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85345. Tuesday, April 16, at 11:00 am Mass of the Resurrection: St. Thomas More Catholic Church 6180 W. Utopia Road, Glendale, AZ 85308. A Celebration of George's Life will also be held in New Jersey at a later date.
Contributions
Memorial gifts may be given in honor of George to any of the following: Amnesty International, Habitat for Humanity, Peaceworks: Promoting Peace Through Understanding, Southern Poverty Law Center, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Quixote Center
George and Valerie are long time members of CORPUS, attending many CORPUS' conferences throughout the US. They were very active in the reform movement in New Jersey/ Arizona.
CONDOLENCES:
Valerie LeBlanc
10215 N. 108th Ave
Sun City, AZ 85351