Leah Annette Mooney

Leah (Liboria) Annette (Antonietta) DiDomenico Mooney was born August 26th, 1922 in Pennsylvania to Santo and Lilian (Loguidice) DiDomenico.  She had three brothers, Salvatore (Casey), Giovanni (John), Guisseppi (Joe) and one sister Annetta (Ann). 

In 1924, the family moved to Jamestown, New York. Tragedy struck the family early and Leah’s mother was killed in a car accident when she was two years old, resulting in the family moving in with her grandparents. Leah had a special fondness for her grandmother, Ninetta Loguidice, who was like a mother to her.

Aside from kindergarten and the fear of leaving her grandmother, Leah loved attending school. She had many friends and loved sports. Despite her short stature, she had her own basketball team in high school. This love carried throughout her entire life, as she constantly told the story of her playing guard.

Her family had a little grocery store where she helped out. Leah demonstrated her versatility and had many jobs, from working as a maid to pressing raincoats. When World War II broke out, Leah helped out the war effort by working on airplane wings and practice bombs - a genuine Rosie the Riveter. Post-war, she resumed various domestic work, including a laundry and dry cleaners, advertising for bread, and waitressing. In 1950, she entered a nursing program. After passing the State Boards two years later, she started her career as a nurse, a lifelong passion.

Her love story with Jay W. Mooney began when her cousin “introduced” them through written  correspondence. Leah and Jay started exchanging letters in July 1952. Little by little, they fell in love and two months later, she made a trip out to California in September to meet her pen-pal face to face. The encounter confirmed their love and after two weeks, they were engaged. Not being ones to procrastinate, they married two months later on November 29th, 1952, in Jamestown, NY. After the honeymoon, they moved back to Mt. View, CA, to begin their newly married life together. 

Jay and Leah moved from Mt. View into the Sunnyvale house in 1959. She took a break from nursing to raise her children, later resuming work at several convalescent hospitals in the Bay Area before retiring from Sunnyvale Convalescent Hospital.

In Leah’s hiatus, she focused on raising her daughters, Kathy and Leanne. Family was very important to Leah, and her family would take yearly summer trips back east to Nebraska and New York. They frequently caravanned with Jay’s sister Verdna and her husband Erroll, traveling to many different places.

Food and hospitality was a huge part of life. Leah loved to cook and have people over. Their home was always open to friends and family and the kitchen was at the heart. Countless people enjoyed Leah’s chicken noodle soup, Italian sausage and peppers, fried chicken and cutlets. And no one could forget her signature spaghetti and meatballs. Everyone left Leah and Jay’s house full of food and love.

Leah and Jay spent much time with all the nieces and nephews in California, Nebraska and New York. They were all very special to her and she loved taking care of them and feeding them, of course.

Leah’s love of family continued to her grandchildren, Michael, Shari and David. They were the delight of her heart and she enjoyed being a grandma. There were many fond memories of card games, ramen soup and melted cheese. In 1995, she and Jay moved to Granite Bay to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren. She was overjoyed when, years later, she became a great-grandmother to Aidan and Charlie.

Bloopers were another fun part of life with Leah. Whether it be a wrong word, a misunderstood meaning or a story involving the “Whatchacalls”, everyone would chuckle when they happened. We started collecting them for Mom’s Book of Bloopers, or the “Booper Book”, as she called it. A family favorite was the time she won 49ers season tickets from a local car dealer drawing and exclaimed to the salesman “Oh wow! I love baseball!” Her humorous missteps were a testament to the light-hearted joy she brought to the world.

Faith was central to Leah’s life. She gave her heart to the Lord at a young age and loved the Lord by serving Him throughout her whole life with unwavering commitment. She taught Sunday School and was involved in women’s groups and many other church activities. Her life was full of reading the Bible, singing hymns, and praying for her family. Her legacy is not just in what she did, but how she did it - with love, kindness, humor and a deep faith that she shared with those around her.  

Leah went home to be with Jesus on December 13, 2023 at the age of 101. She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Kathy (Terry) Collins, Leanne (Robert) Hickerson, grandchildren, Michael (Melissa) Collins, Shari Collins, David Collins, great-grandchildren, Aidan and Charlie Collins, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 49 years, Jay W. Mooney; her parents, Santo and Lilian Loguidice DiDomenico; her brothers, Casey DiDomenico, John DiDomenico, Joe DiDomenico; her sister, Ann Brigiotta; and her great-granddaughter, Katelyn Joy Collins.  Leah will be remembered for her warmth, hospitality, laughter, love and unshakeable faith that will continue to inspire us all.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Spring 2024.