Leona Victoria Quilty

Leona Victoria Quilty, 94, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away Friday, February 17, 2012. Leona was born March 18, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, to Thomas A. and Victoria (Izydorek) Starczewski. She grew up in south Chicago in a tightly-knit and loving family with her two brothers, Chester and Tom, and a sister, Evelyn. She attended college and began working in medical laboratories in Illinois, including Cook County Hospital, Chicago. It was there that she met her future husband, Army Lt. Thomas J. Quilty, M.D. an aspiring young military physician and surgeon. Leona and Thomas wed on September 5, 1946 in Chicago. Leona and Thomas moved to various locations in the United States, such as Tacoma, Washington, Danville, Illinois, Roanoke, Virginia, and back to Chicago before finally settling in the Goshen area in 1955. Leona's main interest was the nurture and care of her husband and family. Her husband, Thomas, had a thriving medical practice in Goshen and Leona took pride in his work and helped him manage the office. She was very active with the Goshen Hospital Auxiliary and also supported local health projects. Leona was also active in her church, St. John's, and made sure that her children got a good education at St. John's Grade School. Leona lived in Indiana until 2003, when she moved to Las Vegas to be close to her daughter, Janet. She lived in a condominium in Las Vegas until 2007 when her health deteriorated. She then lived in the Shining Stars Group Home in Henderson, Nevada and the Sunlight Residential Home in Las Vegas, where she was cared for by the dedicated caretakers of those facilities. Leona was humorous and generous to all. She was sometimes described as a real "character" who insisted in doing things the right way; her way. She was dedicated to her husband, children, her brothers and sister, and her nieces and nephews. As time passed, she extended her dedication to her nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Leona was very personable and engaging, forging special friendships with many people in the Goshen area. Her hearing problems did not slow her down. She is survived by her sons, Thomas (Patricia) of Mauston, Wisconsin, and Robert (Maija) of Picton, Onatario, Canada, and her daughter, Janet (Partner Gerald Cornelius) of Las Vegas, her grandchildren, Timothy, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Mia, Janne, Lena, Taylor, Zachery, and Nathan and 10 great grandchildren and her extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas, a son, Charles, her parents, and her brothers and sister. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 2, 2012, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. An 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 3, 2012, funeral mass will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen. Burial will follow in Violett Cemetery, Goshen.