Leona May Nesi

Friday, Oct. 24, 2025

September 11, 1930 ~ September 18, 2025

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend Leona May Nesi, known to all who loved her as Spoony, received her wings on September 18, 2025, at the age of 95. She was born on September 11, 1930, in Myton, Utah to William and Katherine Hammerschmid. Leona grew up on a farm where she learned the values of hard work and responsibility. From a young age, she rose early to milk cows and do chores before heading off to school.

 At the age of 16, Leona moved to Salt Lake City, where she began working as a nurse’s aide, a role she cherished deeply. Her honesty, punctuality and kindness made her a beloved member of the community. Leona had a gift for creating a warm, welcoming home. Every Sunday, family and friends would gather for coffee and conversation. She had a love for roses, shopping for beautiful clothes and matching jewelry, and decorating her home with care and style. But most of all, she adored her family.

Together with her husband, Sam, Leona raised five children and found joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her legacy lives on through her sons Sam (Patti) and Mike; her daughter, Carol Ann (Scott) Baker; her granddaughter Tina (Mike) Kavros; nieces Catherine Hyde and Ellen Colonno; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.

Leona is preceded in death by her parents William and Katherine Hammerschmid; her husband Sam J. Nesi; her daughter Linda Polanshek; her grandson Stephen Polanshek; and her siblings Willis, Catherine, Jerry, Jackie and Carol.

 The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Welcome Home Assisted Living for their exceptional care and kindness during Leona’s final days.

 Leona will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery,  275 U St., Salt Lake City.

 In honoring her memory, we celebrate the beautiful life she led, the love she shared, and the countless lives she touched.