Joan Leasure Obituary

Joan Patricia Szczesny Schreckengost Leasure, 78, of Sanford, NC, passed away at her home on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Joan was born on Aug. 19, 1947, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to the late John Richard Szczesny and Anna Carolyn Yabczanka Szczesny. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four infant siblings and her late husbands, Charles Clarence Schreckengost and James "Jim" Kenneth Leasure. Joan attended St. Mary's Elementary and New Kensington High School (1965). In her earlier years, Joan worked as a nurse assistant at UPMC Mercy Hospital, and owned and operated El Paso Bar and Grill, where she was well known for her delicious wings and homemade chili. Prior to moving to Sanford, Joan lived in Slippery Rock, at Rusty Acres, named after her beloved dog, Rusty. Joan will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, and friend whose warmth and thoughtfulness touched everyone she met. She had a zest for life and an adventurous spirit, loving old movies, a passion rooted in her childhood trips with her father and brother John to Saturday matinees. Her love of music and dancing came from watching her parents waltz across the living room of her childhood home. She was a devoted grandmother, affectionately known as "silly grandma," and cherished time spent with her eleven great-grandchildren. She was known for her endless stream of birthday cards, holiday greetings, and handwritten notes that reached loved ones near and far. In recent years she poured her heart into writing hundreds of Christmas cards for soldiers a tribute inspired by her father's and son Charles's service in the U.S. Army. Her words carried love, gratitude, and hope, touching lives she never even met. Joan prepared homemade fudge and delivered baked goods to individuals in her local community. To know Joan was to know generosity. She lived life fully, gave love freely, and left behind a legacy of kindness. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of all who were blessed to love her. Joan is survived by her sons, Charles "Chuck" Schreckengost (Denise) of Sanford, NC, and Richard "Rich" Schreckengost (Suzanne) of Winter Garden, FL; stepson, James Leasure (Denise) of Massachusetts; brother, Rev. John S. Szczesny of New Stanton; grandchildren, Justin Massa (Julia) of Cameron, NC, Tiffany Massa of Cameron, NC, Blake Massa of Sanford, NC, CJ Schreckengost (Victoria) of Sanford, NC; Samantha Schreckengost of Valdosta, GA, Nathan Schreckengost and Zachary Schreckengost of Winter Garden, FL; and 11 great-grandchildren. Joan is also survived by her adopted daughter-in-law's mother and aunts, where she was included as a "Gilmore Girl!" Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 857 Kenneth Ave., New Kensington, with her brother, the Rev. John S. Szczesny, officiating. Burial will immediately follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Lower Burrell, where she will be laid to rest with her parents.