Frances Grace Leech's Obituary
Francis Grace Leech aka Patty Davenney Leech passed away on March 5, 2012 after a brief illness. She would have been 95 years old in June. Born in Berkeley, California June 1, 1917, she resided in Alameda County the past 77 years. Her early childhood was in Sacramento, California, and during WWII she lived in San Diego. As a young woman living in Sacramento, Patty designed shoes; she would ride the River Boat from Sacramento to the Bay Area and San Francisco, where the shoes would be custom made. In Oakland she owned and ran a successful Insulation Products Company. She also worked 20 years at CF Toland Metal Fabricator as an office manager Patty and her husband Vivian Leech, with Dr. Rounseville, were the founders of Rounseville Rehabilitation Hospital in Oakland, now owned by Kaiser Permanente. The Redwood tree in front of the facility was planted by Patty's father. Retirement segued Patty to be a volunteer; first through the auspices of the Hospice Department at Kaiser Oakland. She did this in memory of her husband, Viv Leech, who had been in the hospice program before he passed away. As a volunteer for the American Red Cross ' Alameda Service Center for 25 years, she served as transportation program coordinator, social services and disaster services caseworker, volunteer coordinator, Advisory Board member, and coordinator and 'greeter' for the Toys For Tots program. She often saw many clients in a single day, and made everyone of them feel special and important. The Thrift Shop in the Mastick Senior Center in Alameda was another favorite place to volunteer, and she loved meeting and greeting the customers. A 57 year member of Nefr-Are Temple daughters of the Nile, she served as Queen in 1953. Patty was a member of Circle X-LXIII of the King's Daughters and Sons, a service organization dedicated to civic volunteerism. The King's Daughters circle later morphed into the 'Goodtime Charlies', a social organization. She was a member of the Adelphian Club. Patty loved to garden and her garden was a place of tranquility. Patty's mother, Grace Patton was a graduate of the first nursing class taught by Alta Bates, and Patty had fond memories of the time she spent in the company of Alta Bates. Patty's father, Frank Lamar Patton, was the fourth cousin of General George Patton.Patty's husband, George Vivian Leech predeceased Patty.She will be missed by her family Colin and Lois Leech and children; and her dear friends Susan Russo, Annette Hoffman, Carol Lancaster, Don Dennerline, Jim Franz, Vicki Brown and George Kucera, and wonderful care giver Dolly Chamberlin. No flowers are requested. Please send donations to American Red Cross ' Alameda, 451 Stardust Pl., Alameda, CA 94501 or Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter, 1590 Fortmann Way, Alameda, CA 94501. Website: www.faas.bbnow.org
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