Obituary for Helen M. Leketa (Ruksnaitis)
Helen M. (Ruksnaitis) Leketa, 97, longtime Auburn resident, passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester.
Born in Worcester and raised in Auburn, Helen was one of four children born to the late Frank and Anna (Jancauskas) Ruksnaitis. Upon graduating from Auburn High School in 1942, she met the love of her life, the late Anthony P. “Tony” Leketa, with whom she would share 73 years of marriage. When Tony returned home from his honorable service in World War II, the pair settled in Worcester to raise their family. In 1980, they moved to Auburn and became faithful communicants of St. Joseph’s Parish, where they remained active members. Prior to, they were members of St. Casimir’s Church in Worcester, and she was a member of the Mother’s Guild. Helen was also a former member of the Women’s Auxiliary Lithuanian War Veterans Organization – where she was active in the Drum and Bugle Corps. When her children were young, she was a Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack #76.
Helen worked in medical records at St. Vincent Hospital for over twenty years, before retiring. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting. Above all else, family meant the world to Helen and, in turn, her family cherished their matriarch. Mom/Grandma loved a good time and always made sure there was plenty of great food for the family gathering. Whether cooking out in the back yard, making Sunday dinner at the kitchen table, or celebrating a holiday, plenty of Lithuanian delights were on the menu.
She was predeceased by her beloved Tony, her parents, Frank and Anna, her son, Robert J. Leketa, and her siblings, Anthony J. Ruksnaitis, Ruth Ojerholm, and F. John Ruksnaitis.
Helen is survived by her children, Anthony F. Leketa and his fiancée Victoria Lehr, of Gambrills, MD, and Cynthia A. Leketa, of Auburn; a daughter-in-law, Melanie J. Leketa, of Virginia Beach, VA; her grandchildren, Stacy Mongeau, Shane Leketa, Sherry Leketa, Sonya Crane, Stephanie Cleek, Sara Leketa, and Anthony F. Leketa, Jr.; along with eleven great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandson, and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Church, 191 Oxford Street N, Auburn, MA 01501, or to the American Red Cross, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839 (www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/).
Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing hour, between 10 and 11 AM on Monday, March 15, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Church, 189 Oxford Street N, Auburn, MA, followed by her funeral Mass at 11. Social distancing and masks will be required. Burial will be with her husband in Hillside Cemetery.
Born in Worcester and raised in Auburn, Helen was one of four children born to the late Frank and Anna (Jancauskas) Ruksnaitis. Upon graduating from Auburn High School in 1942, she met the love of her life, the late Anthony P. “Tony” Leketa, with whom she would share 73 years of marriage. When Tony returned home from his honorable service in World War II, the pair settled in Worcester to raise their family. In 1980, they moved to Auburn and became faithful communicants of St. Joseph’s Parish, where they remained active members. Prior to, they were members of St. Casimir’s Church in Worcester, and she was a member of the Mother’s Guild. Helen was also a former member of the Women’s Auxiliary Lithuanian War Veterans Organization – where she was active in the Drum and Bugle Corps. When her children were young, she was a Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack #76.
Helen worked in medical records at St. Vincent Hospital for over twenty years, before retiring. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting. Above all else, family meant the world to Helen and, in turn, her family cherished their matriarch. Mom/Grandma loved a good time and always made sure there was plenty of great food for the family gathering. Whether cooking out in the back yard, making Sunday dinner at the kitchen table, or celebrating a holiday, plenty of Lithuanian delights were on the menu.
She was predeceased by her beloved Tony, her parents, Frank and Anna, her son, Robert J. Leketa, and her siblings, Anthony J. Ruksnaitis, Ruth Ojerholm, and F. John Ruksnaitis.
Helen is survived by her children, Anthony F. Leketa and his fiancée Victoria Lehr, of Gambrills, MD, and Cynthia A. Leketa, of Auburn; a daughter-in-law, Melanie J. Leketa, of Virginia Beach, VA; her grandchildren, Stacy Mongeau, Shane Leketa, Sherry Leketa, Sonya Crane, Stephanie Cleek, Sara Leketa, and Anthony F. Leketa, Jr.; along with eleven great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandson, and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Church, 191 Oxford Street N, Auburn, MA 01501, or to the American Red Cross, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839 (www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/).
Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing hour, between 10 and 11 AM on Monday, March 15, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Church, 189 Oxford Street N, Auburn, MA, followed by her funeral Mass at 11. Social distancing and masks will be required. Burial will be with her husband in Hillside Cemetery.