Obituary of Regina "Jeannie" Lepore

Regina “Jeannie” Lepore, a longtime Chatham Township resident, died peacefully on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 surrounded by the love of her family. She was 85.

Jeannie was born in Newark, NJ on February 4, 1934 to the late Martin and Mary Dwyer. She was raised in Newark and was the 10th child in a family of 11 children. Jeannie graduated from East Side High School. She married Leonard “Lenny” A. Lepore on February 26, 1955. Jeannie and Lenny eventually settled in Chatham Township 54 years ago, where they raised their family.

Jeannie had a long career at the Chatham Middle School as a secretary to the principal for 27 years. She enjoyed her work and valued the lasting friendships she formed with her coworkers. Jeannie was dedicated to her work and was heavily relied upon for the daily operation of the office at the middle school.

Jeannie cherished her family and they were paramount in her life. Throughout her life she selflessly put others before herself and she enjoyed taking care of everyone. Jeannie especially loved cooking for family and friends. She also had a great passion for sports. If she wasn't on the bleachers watching one of her grandchildren playing their favorite sport, she could be found watching football, baseball and basketball on TV. She had a profound faith in God and was an active parishioner of Corpus Christi Church. Jeannie regularly collected & donated food to the homeless through her church.

Jeannie was well known for her assertiveness, strong will and quick wit. She had an excellent sense of humor and came up with many "one-liners”. Jeannie had a sharp mind and was a self-taught seamstress. She enjoyed creating custom draperies for friends and family.

Jeannie’s warmth, smile and good-hearted nature will be forever missed by all that knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, Jeannie was predeceased by her son, Leonard “Lenny” A. Lepore, Jr. in 2011; her 10 brothers and sisters, Mary, Helen, Anna, Frances, Joseph, James, Margaret, John, Martin & Elaine. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 64 years, Leonard “Lenny” A. Lepore, Sr. of Chatham Twp.; three devoted daughters, Mary Ellen May and her husband, Michael of Harding Twp., Barbara Decker and her husband Keith of Oldwick & Donna Masiello and her husband, Michael of Pocono Pines, PA; her sister-in-law, Melvina Dwyer; her cherished 7 grandchildren & 4 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at Corpus Christi Church, 234 Southern Blvd, Chatham. Interment will follow at Fairmount Cemetery, Chatham. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation to celebrate Jeannie’s life from 3:00PM to 6:00PM on Friday at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

In lieu of flowers, Jeannie’s family has requested charitable contributions be made in her memory to the Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Fund, c/o the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, 475 South St., 1st Floor, Morristown, NJ 07960 or online at f4mmc.org