Alice Mae Leonard

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain” Vivian Green

Alice M. (Dunham) Leonard, 88, of South Royalston, died peacefully in her home during the evening hours of January 15th.

She was born in Winchendon, MA on June 22, 1936, daughter of the late Lewis A. Dunham and Arlene (Stowell) Dunham. Alice was a graduate of Athol Royalston Regional High School, and Fisher Junior College. She grew up in South Royalston. In 1956 she married Norman R. Leonard at the Second Congregational Church of South Royalston. They lived in Athol for many years raising their three daughters, Laurie, Joni, and Tina.

Alice always loved music and enjoyed attending church and singing in the choir. She was a long time member of the Second Congregational Church of South Royalston, the Athol Congregational Church, as well as the Green Pond Baptist Church of Polk City, Florida. In addition to singing, Alice loved to dance.

Over her lifetime, Alice always had a desire to help others and worked in the field of human services in various capacities in agencies such as Catholic Charities and Habitat for Humanity. She enjoyed being involved in local boards and committees.

Her husband, Norman R. Leonard, died in 2009. She leaves three daughters, Laurie Chaplin, Joni Kilhart, and Tina McGrail; a brother Roger A. Dunham Sr., and a sister Sally Berry, as well as six grandchildren, Norman Chaplin, Kate (Kilhart) Kelleher, Derek Chaplin, Kyle Kilhart, Shonna (McGrail) Ryan, Tessa (McGrail) Santoro, and four great grandchildren, Owen Chaplin, McKenzie Kelleher, Kody Kilhart, Jack Santoro, Milo Santoro, and Jameson Ryan. Alice was predeceased by her three brothers Lewis A. Dunham Jr., Harry Dunham, and William Dunham, and three sisters, Doris Smith, June Smith, and Rita Gates.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Contributions can be made in memory of Alice to the Second Congregational Church of South Royalston, 3 School Street, South Royalston, MA 01368.