Marian H. Leary

Marian H. Leary

November 28, 1926 – March 26, 2024

Born Marian Suzanne Hansen on a farm outside Portsmouth, Iowa, she grew up in Council Bluffs, studied at Omaha University and the Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and worked as a flight attendant with Mid-Continent Airlines until marrying Omaha lawyer, Thomas Pennell “Penn” Leary in 1950.  Her love of music and the arts inspired a life of community service.  In 1952, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Omaha Symphony, where she served for twenty years, as President for two and as Symphony Manager for one. She also helped establish The Omaha Symphony Guild and served as its President. For five years, she served on the Board of Trustees of the Joslyn Art Museum, where she had been a devoted tour guide. And at Trinity Cathedral, her beloved church, she sang in the choir every Sunday until her 70^th birthday and sat on the Cathedral’s Vestry.  A wise and graceful mix of curiosity and good humor, she made all who knew her feel seen and appreciated.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Pennell “Penn” Leary; son-in-law, Gary Wence; twin sister, Millicent Lepinski; sister, Patricia Clark; sister-in-law, Jane Louise Leary. She is survived by her son, Brian (Donna Debello) Leary; daughters, Erin Leary Wence, Shawn Leary (Michael) Considine; grandchildren: Charles Wence, Emily Wence (Adam) Langdon, Anne Considine, Nora Considine (Cody) Leydet, Christopher Considine, Ian Leary; great-grandson, John Russell Leydet.

Funeral Service: Saturday, April 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m., Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 113 N. 18th St.

Private Family Interment: Evergreen Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to Omaha Symphony (Omaha Symphony Development Dept., 1905 Harney Street, Suite 400, Omaha, NE 68102) or to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (113 N. 18th Street, Omaha, NE 68102).