Anita Louise O'Leary

Anita L. O’Leary, 67 years of Toledo passed away Thursday, January 5, 2012 at the Advanced Specialty Hospital. She was born in Maumee to the late Ademer Gouttierre and Adeline (Yeager) Gouttierre. She attended St. Joseph Catholic elementary school in Maumee and was a 1962 graduate of McAuley High School and the former Warners School of Cosmetology in 1963. She married Thomas O’Leary on August 21st 1965 and they had one daughter, Michelle Lynn, born in 1968. Her father owned Gouttierre Pastry shop in Maumee and she along with her three brothers were expected to work early every Saturday morning which didn’t always thrill them. She enjoyed golf, tennis, bowling and hosted many golf outings with her sister-in-law, Anne O’Leary. She was also an avid reader, often reading 3 or 4 books per week. Anita had a wonderfully close relationship with her family, especially her daughter, Michelle and loved spending time with her. When the grandchildren, Matt and Ali came along, they were the love of her life. Anita was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age sixteen and endured 26 surgeries in her 51 year battle with the disease. She had an amazing ability to cope with her illness and she helped many young girls who were facing the prospect of having a colostomy. Even when she wasn’t feeling well she would greet people with a smile and keep a positive attitude about life. Anita is survived by her husband, Thomas O’Leary, daughter, Michelle (Trevor) Chillson, grandchildren, Matthew and Alison, brothers, Thomas (Marylu) Gouttierre, Michael (Marcia) Gouttierre and James (Sue) Gouttierre, brother and sister-in-law, Timothy and Anne O’Leary, mother-in-law, Dolores C. O’Leary, seven nephews, Adam, Nestor, Edward and Matthew Gouttierre, and Todd, Andrew and Thomas O’Leary, niece, Heather (Steven) West. Also surviving is her aunt and godmother, Sister Marie Michelle (Rosemary) Gouttierre, OSU and Mary Rita Gouttierre. Anita has donated her body for medical research to the UT Medical Center. The family will be receiving friends Monday, January 9th beginning at 10:30 a.m. at St. Rose Church, Perrysburg where a Memorial Mass will begin at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the Holiday Inn, French Quarter Perrysburg. Memorials may take the form of contribution to the Crohn’s Disease and Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Ave.7th Floor, New York City, NY 10016. Please direct any floral tributes to the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 So. Reynolds Road, Toledo, OH 43614 for distribution to the family.

Anita Louise O'Leary

March 9, 1944 - January 5, 2012