Leona Katherine Wittman Scire

Mrs. Leona Katherine Wittman Scire, surrounded by her loving family, passed away on January 7, 2010.

Leona was a long-time resident of the Hyattsville and Frederick, Maryland, areas. Born on September 13, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Margaretha Biessener and Leo H. Wittman and wife of the late Vincenzo James Emanuel Scire.

Leona's life was a full one. Her early years were spent growing up on a small family farm in Akeley, Minnesota, where she learned how to confront life's difficulties during the Great Depression--and make the world a better place by always giving more than she received to her family, friends, and others with whom she shared her world. Together with her husband Jim, Leona was blessed with fourteen children, thirty-five grandchildren, and twenty-two great grandchildren. She believed in personal responsibility and, up until her final illness, contributed to the world around her through the beautiful quilts and other fabric art that she donated to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, her extended family, and anyone fortunate enough to visit her artist studio. She will be missed by all who knew her. Leona is survived by her children, Leo James Scire and wife Sherry of Sun City, FL; Cecilia Karilyn Scire Balzer of Bowie, MD; Fredric Emanuel Scire and wife Mary Ann of Frederick, MD; Dr. John Anthony Scire and wife Gail of Sparks, NV; Magreta Ann Scire Kuzner and husband David of Waynesboro, PA; Celeste Maria Scire Dalton and husband Daniel of Greencastle, PA; Vincent Paul Scire and wife Janet of Churchville, MD; Irene Louise Scire Hernandez and husband Tony of Johnstown, PA; Eileen Terese Scire Schwartz and husband Theodor of Greencastle, PA; Mary Catherine Scire and husband Christopher Izzo of Columbia, MD; Michael Andrew Scire and wife Tonya of Frederick, MD; Mathew Joseph Scire of Bowie, MD; Mark Thomas Scire and wife Jacqueline of New Market, MD; and Martin Edward Scire of Gaithersburg, MD. She is also survived by her brother Ervin Wittman of Colorado Springs, CO.

She was preceded in death by her sister Mildred and her brothers Alfred and Arthur.

Visitation: The family will receive friends at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD, Sunday, January 10, 2010 from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 p.m.

Services: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, January 11, at 11:00 a.m. From St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 112 E. Second Street, Frederick.
Interment St. John's Catholic Church Cemetery.