Leona Van Mansfeld Rossenthal

Our beautiful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend has ended her earthly journey. In her last weeks, even after living a long life full of love and interesting experiences, she fought with determination to celebrate another day of living. Her struggle taught us all, in the words of Rabbi Abraham Herschel, that “Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.”
Born in Atlanta, she grew up in the city where she and her family were active members of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception parish where she went to school and was married. She was a member of the Altar Society and her activities gave her young children many memories of Friday night bingo in the church basement, bazaars and spaghetti suppers.
She graduated early from Sacred Heart Academy in Atlanta where she skipped several grades because of her academic excellence. She worked for United Shoe Company and later Samuel Bingham Co. where her boss greeted her every day with”Good Morning, Morning Glory! Your beautiful face makes me glad to be at work!” After her children were grown, she enjoyed working at Halls’ Flower Shop-Belvedere and loved her many friends there.
She married Sam Rosenthal, in 1946. Sam was the owner of Rosenthal Metal Company on Peters St. Their three children, Mina, Tony and Randy, feel gratitude beyond measure for the love, security, education, guidance, support, fun and happiness that filled their childhoods
The Rosenthal family grew up in Decatur and was among the charter members of the then new parish St. Thomas More. All three children graduated from St. Thomas More School, and Leona involved herself in the PTA, fund raisers, car pools and sharing recipes with the nuns. For many years she and her friend, Olga Dunwoody, decorated the altar with flowers for every Sunday mass. At Christmas and Easter their collective creativity and many hours of hard work made the church very beautiful.
Leona was a devoted Catholic. When age and infirmity kept her from being able to attend mass, she watched it daily on TV and always called her sister to remind her it was on. She had a ritual of prayers she said every day, both morning and night. Her children jokingly said she had St. Anthony and Blessed Pope John Paul on speed-dial because she talked about them so much! And on her fridge, along with pictures of her grandchildren, was a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus held up by a magnet that said “Angels Among Us.” She died with her prayer book in her hands.
She was extremely intelligent and an avid reader, loving mysteries most of all. She was equally creative and was a member of the Atlanta Artist’s Club studying under Ouida Canaday. She enjoyed ceramics and ‘tole” painting and as a member of the Candlelight Garden Club, won many blue ribbons at flower shows for her arrangements. She mastered cake decorating and won first place at the Georgia State Fair for her wedding cake that was designed with cascading orchids sculpted from icing. At Christmas, the family’s decorated yard display of an angel playing Christmas music on a pipe organ yes you could hear it from the street caused traffic jams and won the top award in DeKalb County for a Christmas decorating contest sponsored by the Jaycees.
The Rosenthal home was large, warm and generous and the site of many parties for the children, family and friends. She was a member of a group of special ladies called “The Secret Pals” and this group and their husbands were the family’s dearest friends.
Leona was the heart of this home and her talents were too many to count, but where she excelled beyond all measure was in her role as mother.
On one of our many trips to Florida, we purchased a plaque for her that hung on our wall for all the years we lived in our Decatur home. It reads:
To one who bears the sweetest name
And adds a luster to the same
Who shares my joys, who cheers when sad,
The greatest friend I ever had.
Long life to her, for there’s no other
Can take the place of my dear Mother.
Our wish was granted. She had a long, full life. And indeed, there is no other who can ever take her place.
She was preceded in death by her parents Cesar and Ann Van Mansfeld; her husband Sam Rosenthal; her sister Connie Van Mansfeld Roughgarden Johnson; and her brother Gerry Van Mansfeld. She is loved by her survivors who include daughter Mina Rosenthal Dyson and husband Gene Dyson; Tony Rosenthal and wife Kathy Layden; son Randy Rosenthal and wife Babbie Rosenthal; Grandchildren Amanda Dyson Dana and husband Michal Dana; Andrea Dyson; Laura Rosenthal and Mark Rosenthal; Richard Rosenthal and Christopher Rosenthal, and Great-grandson Adam Dana. She is also survived by her sister Barbara Van Mansfeld Lancaster and her niece Marilyn Lancaster.
Funeral services will be Sunday, October 23, 2011 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Decatur with interment at Westview Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the church at 3:00 p. m. Because Leona contributed to so many charities that touched her heart, we ask that in lieu of flowers that you make a contribution to the charity of your choice in her name. Should you choose to send flowers, Jones Florist, 404-755-1756, will deliver directly to the cemetery.