Leona Marie ("Lee"), beloved wife of the late Donald T. Walsh (d. April 26, 2020), passed away January 11, 2022. She is survived by her loving children; Terrence (Rose), Christopher, Daniel (Lisa), Mark (Karen), Maria (Dean) Richmond. Her grandchildren Andrew (Brianne), Danielle (Matthew) Tutich, Emma (Jordan) Broaddus, Leanna Walsh, Julia, Erin, Nate Richmond, Sarah, Matthew, Kate Walsh. Her great-grandchildren Elliott, Noah, William, Evelyn Walsh, Elizabeth, Emma Tutich.

A longtime resident of Cincinnati, she was a Chicago native where she was born on March 16, 1931, daughter of the late Wanda (nee Forys) and Leo Obodzinski and sister of the late Leonard Edward Obodzinski. When she was a little girl and through her teen years, she was very active in the Polish Falcons of America, where she participated in gymnastics, folk dancing, and choral singing. There was always music. It was a wonderful way of life in a rich, cultural heritage.

Lee graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.S. and College of Mount Saint Joseph with an M.A., majoring in languages. Among her many part-time summer jobs, she was a director of a summer camp, one of six dancers on the floor show at a famous Chicagoland supper club, and a dancer for Avery Production's mainstage show at county and state fairs.

After graduation from college, Lee went west to her beloved mountains where she was a charter member of a summer stock company in Taos, New Mexico, a renowned art colony. Her first teaching job was about an hour from Chicago at Oswego High School – a happy, fun time in her life. In Cincinnati, she taught at LaSalle High School and subbed in area schools for a total of 22 years.

Lee studied acting in Chicago and San Francisco – an award-winning actress, she worked on the stages of Drama Workshop, Mariemont Players, Wyoming Players, Footlighters, Thomas Moore College, Miami University, the Carnegie in Covington, La Comedia, Falmouth Theatre, and Playhouse in the Park (where she ushered for over 20 years). She also did commercial work and play readings. In 1985, she became a founding member of Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati where she was the lead in two of three plays from its grassroots program. Its first production was performed at Memorial Hall. In the company's first 15 years, she had roles in 20 plays, many of them as principal actor, and was twice directed by Edward Albee. She was also the company representative and secretary of the board for six years.

Lee was a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association, a retired member of the Screen Actors Guild, having had roles in several films, most notably Milk Money , and was a member of Phi Beta, a national honorary fraternity of people involved in the arts. She was a Post Corbett Award finalist for her work as an actress and was named a Cincinnati Magazine "Best" in Ensemble Theatre's production of Th ree Tall Wom e n by Edward Albee. Lee loved and took advantage of all the arts that Cincinnati has to offer – theatre, opera, ballet, choral music, symphony, the Taft, and the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Lee loved traveling, cooking, entertaining, singing, reading, writing, and listening to classical music. She touched many lives with her generosity, love, and passion for life. She cherished time with her family and was always interested in the lives of her children and her grandchildren. Lee was "one of a kind" and will forever be remembered and missed by those who loved her and all who were fortunate enough to have known her. Memorial Mass will take place on Saturday (April 2) at Little Flower Church, 5560 Kirby Ave. at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Special condolences may be expressed at frederickfh.com