Leona Georgina Schonlau

Leona Georgina Schonlau October 3, 1932 - May 12, 2022 Leona was the fourth of seven children born to Susie and Bert Potestio Sr. Leona came into this world on October 3, 1932 in Vineland, Colorado. Leona is survived by her brother Alfred Potestio, her sisters-in-law Mary Potestio, Viki Potestio, and Peggy Koons as well as sixteen nieces and nephews and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Helen Dingle, Virginia Gilley, Marie Philips, her brothers Vincent Potestio, Bert Potestio, Jr., her brothers-in-law Robert Philips, Edward Gilley, and Robert Dingle, her sister-in-law Beverly Potestio and, her beloved husband of nearly sixty years, William (Bill) Schonlau. Leona worked as a bookkeeper for many years at the Pueblo Clinic and later, ABEX before she and Bill moved to Texas and Louisiana for Bill’s work where she continued to work as a bookkeeper for various businesses. Leona and Bill eventually moved back to Colorado and upon Bill’s retirement from Aurora Public Schools, returned to the Potestio family home in Avondale, Colorado. Leona maintained that home as the Potestio family gathering place with the door open to all of the family at all times for over forty years. She greeted everyone with a smile and her memorable laugh. Leona ensured that any member of her family had a seat at the kitchen table at any time. Leona loved flowers and birds and she and Bill turned the family home’s yard into a beautiful and peaceful sanctuary. Leona’s door was never locked. If she and Bill were not at home, she would leave a note on the kitchen table saying “You’re here, I’m not, be back later. [signed] Puss” (her childhood nickname). Later, she often was called “Onee” by her nieces and nephews. Leona loved to see and experience what her world had to offer and went on many trips and adventures with her aunts, sisters, nieces, nephews and her husband. She and Bill would often take drives just to see where the road led them. Likewise, Leona and Bill would often take their nieces and nephews on impromptu daytrips to see the changing of the Aspens, the Royal Gorge and other sites (sometimes without their nieces’ and nephews’ parents’ knowledge). Leona was a voracious reader who devoured the daily newspaper as well as books regarding history, current events, and political figures. Leona was also a prolific writer of handwritten letters and notes to everyone in her orbit. It was not uncommon for anyone in the family to receive a letter or note marking a special occasion or to just catch everyone up on what was going on with the family. Leona was the guardian and, indeed, the curator, of the Potestio family’s history. She gathered, preserved and shared as many photographs, artifacts, heirlooms and family stories as possible. If someone had a question about a family member or an event, Leona could likely produce an annotated photo album or notes regarding that very person or event. Nearly everything in her home had a family story behind it and Leona was not at all shy about sharing those stories. Leona, was an extremely loyal and fierce protector of both her family and her family’s legacy. Leona deeply loved her husband and each and every member of her family. She would always respond to a parting “I love you” with “I love you more” and genuinely meant it. Leona will be profoundly missed.