Leona Mae Wolf Hemenway

Leona Wolf Hemenway

January 1, 1929 – August 13, 2024

Leona Hemenway of Sacramento, California was born on January 1, 1929 as a “New Year Baby” in Los Angeles, California. She passed peacefully in her sleep on August 13, 2024 in Roseville, California. She was the daughter of Joseph and Bernice Wolf of Nevada City, California. She was the last of her 3 siblings to survive, Arthur Wolf, Ronald Wolf and Jackiliene B. Wolf (Haynes). 

Leona Mae Wolf and Dean Leslie Hemenway were married on July 3, 1947. In the following years, they were blessed with three sons Dean Jr., Bradley and Craig. Their 3 sons have now produced in total 8 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren. 

Leona and Dean lived in Marysville, California until November, 1950 when they moved to Stockton, California. In 1955 they then moved to Lodi, California and resided there until 1965. While living in Lodi, Leona and Dean attended the First Baptist Church where Leona was an active member of the choir. Leona loved to sing and while living in Lodi she was frequently asked to perform at weddings and funerals. She also on occasion was known for picking up the microphone and performing with various bands while she and Dean were on vacation cruise ships. Leona also took up a hobby selling second hand merchandise at various Flea Markets almost every weekend. The second-hand merchandise was purchased at significant discounts from many of the local stores including White Front, Gemco and Longs Drug stores. Leona became very popular with many her friends from her Lodi neighborhood as they often assisted her at the Flea Market sales events. 

Leona and Dean moved to Fresno, California in 1965. Leona continued with her lucrative hobby of selling second-hand merchandise at local Flea Markets. However, due to the success of her collaborative reputation with several retail stores, the quantity of merchandise increased significantly. In order to continue to process the merchandise in her home, Leona and Dean actually dug a basement (by hand) under their Fresno home. Of course, this took some time to accomplish but was all done with oversight by the city of Fresno to ensure the structural integrity of the home and basement. 

In the mid 1980’s, Leona and Dean purchased homes in both Grass Valley, California and Yuma, Arizona. During these years, they lived the “Snow Bird” life of spending their time in Grass Valley during the summer months and Yuma, Arizona in the winter.

Leona’s beloved husband Dean Hemenway passed away on December 28, 2004. After Dean’s passing Leona sold her homes in Grass Valley and Yuma and then moved to the Sun City Lincoln Hills Adult Community in Lincoln, California. She quickly gained a number of new friends from her membership in the Red Hat Society and as an active member in the Pleasant Grove Community Church choir. 

In September, 2014 Leona decided she wanted to be closer to her son Bradley and daughter in law Sharie and so she sold her Lincoln home and purchased a home in the Heritage Park Adult Community in Sacramento, California. Here she remained until the decline of her health became too challenging for her to maintain her home. She then sold her home in October, 2023 and moved in to a group home in Roseville, California where she eventually passed. A private service is planned to take place in the next few weeks.

Leona is now certainly in heaven and has been welcomed by her husband Dean and sons Bradley and Craig. At 95 years old, she was fortunate to have passed quietly in her sleep without pain or any discomfort. However, for those of us she has left behind, we will truly miss her!!