Esther Maria Leonardi, 83, of Elmira, NY, took her last breath on June 12, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Esther was born in Lima, Peru on July 23, 1942. She was the daughter of the late Sixto and Maria (Loli) Calero, and the sister to the late Elena, Alejandro, Javier, Maria, Genoveva, Raul, Victor, Luis, and surviving sister Olga.

She arrived in Brooklyn, NY, and lived with her sister and her family until she met, fell in love with and married her love of more than 59 years, Lorenzo Leonardi. They married on July 30, 1966. They bought and settled in their home on Bay Ridge Pkwy. There they raised 3 children before moving to their new home in Elmira, NY in 1993.

In her spare time, Esther loved reading her Bible and Watchtower publications, attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall and assemblies, sharing her beliefs with many in the house-to-house ministry. She loved serving her God and Creator, Jehovah. Esther also loved to dance and cook...many times at the same time. Her love of cooking led her to host many gatherings and dinners in her home both in Brooklyn and Elmira. Her signature dish of arroz con pollo has been coined "Esther Rice," to many. She loved teaching, feeding, entertaining, and helping any who came into her life and because of that she was loved in return and became a friend and a second mother/grandmother to them. She loved her family, she loved people!

Esther is survived by her husband of almost 60 years, Lorenzo Leonardi; her children, John Leonardi, Lisa (Peter) Wilcox, Larry Leonardi Jr.; grandchildren, Alex and Isabella; sister/sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 3:00 pm, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 708 Lena Pl., Elmira. For those unable to come in-person, may join us via Zoom. The Zoom info is as follows: Meeting # 901 068 0727 Passcode # 226241.