Leona M. DeRosia (Brenner) 80, of Renfrew, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 16th, 2026. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Thomas. Leona was a lifelong member of St John’s “Burry’s” Church in Rochester, where she and Tom raised four daughters, Beth, Shari, Carrie, and Kim in the love of the Lord. Leona was born and raised in Rochester, a daughter of the late H. Merrill and Laureme Brenner, along with her two siblings: Donna (William) Wright, and Kay (David) Allen. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Donna and her brothers-in-law, William Wright, Dennis (Jan) DeRosia and Kenneth (Sue) DeRosia.She is survived by her twelve grandchildren: Robert (Katie), Aleesha (Manny), Sarah, Ryan, Emma, Katherine (Charles), Hannah, Michael, Matthew, Josiah, Nathanael, Abigail and her three great grandchildren Thomas, Madilynn, and Ava Jo.
Tom and Leona married on September 30th, 1967, and moved to a town just outside of Detroit where they started their family. However, the draw to Western Pennsylvania brought them back to Freedom, where they built a house on a country road and continued to grow their family. Together, they had four beloved daughters: Elizabeth Henry, Sharon (Christopher) Huggins, Carrie (James) Blawas, and Kimberly (Josef) Funyak.
To know Leona is to know how much she delighted in life and in her family. She spent her days steadfastly pursuing Goodness, Truth, and Beauty, and pointing others to God, who is the Source of it all. Besides her Lord and her family, her chief delights included reading, playing the piano, gardening, raising horses, and going to horse events with Tom, playing card games, and making her family laugh.
Calling hours will be held at St. John’s “Burry’s” Church, 1835 Rt #68, Rochester (New Sewickley Twp.) on Sunday, January 25th from 3-5 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. at the church, with reception to follow immediately after the service. A private burial at St. John’s “Burry’s” Church Cemetery, which is in the same location, 1835 Rt #68, Rochester.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Leona’s memory may be made to St John’s “Burry’s” Church, 1835 Rt #68, Rochester, PA 15074 or your local church.
“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the Earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him, with my eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.
To share online condolences, view Leona’s video tribute or get directions, please visit www.simpsonfuneralhome.com