Leona Ricklin

WORCESTER-Leona (Shapiro) Ricklin,95, passed away Monday, May 15 at home.

 Leona was born in March 1928 in the Bronx, NY,. She leaves her husband of 39 years, Donald R. Ricklin and her sister Beatrice P. Cohen of Worcester. She also leaves her nephews Dean Cohen and his wife Donna of Warwick, RI, Michael Cohen and his wife Carol of Southbridge, MA, and Alec Shapiro of Worcester, and nieces Linda Larrivee and her husband Alan, and Shari O’Connor and her husband Christopher all of Worcester, all of whom grew up calling her “Auntie Ownie” which they did until her death. In addition, she leaves her sister-in-law Betsy Shapiro and her husband's sister Leslie Ricklin Wells, his brothers Roger and Ethan Ricklin and their wives children. She also leaves many great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Abraham Shapiro and Devorah (Shulman) Shapiro as well as her brother Stanley Shapiro.

Leona grew up and lived most of her life in Worcester. She loved plants and gardening. She painted abstracts and belonged to some artist groups showing her work at the Worcester Art Museum School and libraries over the years. Leona loved to travel so she and her husband visited many locations including Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico City as well as across the US including Florida, California, Santa Fe, and Arizona. RV trips included the Grand Canyon in 1992 where she hiked halfway down the Bright Angel Trail. 

A Celebration of Leona's Life will be held Sunday, June 4  from 10:30am to Noon at Callahan Fay Caswell Life Celebration Home, 61 Myrtle Street. Burial will be private.