Obituary of Leona Marie Schwartz

Leona Schwartz, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, loving matriarch, cherished friend, gifted educational leader and longtime Principal of St. John the Apostle School, passed away peacefully in the early hours of October 8. She was 98 years old.Leona was born in Syracuse, NY, raised and married in Buffalo, NY before moving to Texas in 1952 when her husband Jack was transferred to be a part of the operational opening of Bell Helicopter.Devoutly religious, Leona and Jack were founding members of St. John the Apostle Catholic parish in North Richland Hills and became stalwart and reliable backbones to the parish for years to follow. Leona began teaching at St. John’s School in 1965, became principal in 1972, and continued in that capacity until her retirement in 1989. Her tenure as principal brought honor and recognition to the school. After her retirement, Leona continued to serve the Diocese of Fort Worth in various capacities and contributed time to the North Texas Food Bank.Leona was an avid reader and relentless seeker of understanding throughout her active life. Always willing to share her knowledge and to gain further insights from others, she was a model to generations of the value of education and the principle of lifelong learning. She will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all she touched.Leona is survived by her son John and wife Janice, and her daughter Mary Kathryn (Kathy) Williams and husband Chris. She was preceded in death by her husband John (Jack) Schwartz in 1983 and by her son James (Jim) in 1990. Additional survivors include her daughter in law, Nancy Schwartz and her sons, Jeffery and Michael, and grandchildren and step-grandchildren (Matthew, Daniel, and Gregory Schwartz, Chaunda (Chaun) Vickery, Julia (Cassie) Nowlin, Kaitlyn Williams and Kara Best, Stacey Dewey, Ernest and Michael Trevino, Kristie Hodge), and seventeen great-grandchildren.