Leona May Nesi's Obituary
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend
Leona May Nesi, known to all who loved her as Spoony, received her wings on September 18, 2025, at the age of 95. She was born on September 11, 1930, in Myton, Utah, to William and Katherine Hammerschmid. Leona grew up on a farm where she learned the values of hard work and responsibility. From a young age, she rose early to milk cows and do chores before heading off to school.
At the age of 16, Leona moved to Salt Lake City, where she began working as a nurse’s aide, a role she cherished deeply. Her honesty, punctuality, and kindness made her a beloved member of the community. Leona had a gift for creating a warm, welcoming home. Every Sunday, family and friends would gather for coffee and conversation. She had a love for roses, shopping for beautiful clothes and matching jewelry, and decorating her home with care and style. But most of all, she adored her family.
Together with her husband, Sam, Leona raised five children and found joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her legacy lives on through her sons, Sam (Patti) and Mike; her daughter, Carol Ann (Scott) Baker; her granddaughter, Tina (Mike) Kavros; nieces Catherine Hyde and Ellen Colonno; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.
Leona is preceded in death by her parents, William and Katherine Hammerschmid; her husband, Sam J. Nesi; her daughter, Linda Polanshek; her grandson, Stephen Polanshek; and her siblings, Willis, Catherine, Jerry, Jackie, and Carol.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Welcome Home Assisted Living for their exceptional care and kindness during Leona’s final days.
A viewing will be held on 9/28 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Neil O'Donnell Funeral Home, 372 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT.
On 9/29, a viewing will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Olaf Catholic Church, 276 East 1700 South, Bountiful, Utah.
Leona will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 4th Ave. & T St., Salt Lake City, Utah.
In honoring her memory, we celebrate the beautiful life she led, the love she shared, and the countless lives she touched.
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