Leontine Eugenie Lochet, born January 11, 1929, in Hagondange, France, and lived in the United States since 1953, died peacefully in the Haven Hospice of JFK Medical Center on February 20 surrounded by her family and friends during a beautiful moment of prayer. Leontine, known to her friends as Leona, survived the German occupation of her hometown during World War II and met her husband Jean, a French paratrooper, after World War II during the French Military involvement in Vietnam. They were happily married for 67 years and bore two children, Claude and Martine. They resided in Los Angeles, California, until 1964, then returning to work and live in the French Alps. Then in 1969, employment brought them back to the United States and located their home in Metuchen, New Jersey.

Leona worked as a governess for members of the French government, a position through which she became personally acquainted with high members of government and also good friends with the first Israeli President David ben Gurion. Before emigrating, Leona was very involved in assisting French Jews locate and reunite with family members dispersed by the tragedies of World War II. In the United States, she attended the needs of her family and suffered the tragic accidental teenage death her daughter, Martine, in France.

During the 1990s, she contributed historical and cultural articles to the Napoleonic Magazines Empires, Eagles and Lions and Napoleon. In her later years, Leona Lochet was very active and happy to assist in the Local Meals on Wheels program. Mrs. Lochet was a talented artist and chef, with a welcoming and humorous disposition. She regularly played cards and was an avid lap swimmer.

Leona is survived by her husband Jean, son Claude, his wife Sue, grandchildren Nicholas and Emily; adopted daughter by love, Sheila Gilbert, and grandson by love, Seth Greenberg; also her sister Josephine Maria Bucchieri, niece Karen and nephew Peter; many relatives and friends in France and her Westie, GIGI.

Services are arranged through the Flynn and Son/Koyen Funeral Home, 319 Amboy Avenue, Metuchen, NJ. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 23, from 3 to 7 PM. Funeral Services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 9:15 AM followed by Mass of Christian burial at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral at 10:15AM. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery, Metuchen, NJ.