Joan Ungar Leitz

Joan Ungar Leitz, age 94, passed away peacefully at her home in Phoenix, Arizona on September 21st after a courageous battle with congestive heart disease. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 27, 1928, Joan graduated from Walnut Hills High School, and married her High School sweetheart, Herbert Leitz on August 29, 1948. Joan was a devoted loving wife & homemaker, fabulous cook & baker. Mom helped raise two sons, Steve and Bob while moving around the country as Herb was transferred to various assignments with Chevrolet Motor Division. Joan made friends easily, helping many synagogues with fundraising and social activities, hosting parties at home, and helping with Cincinnati Cousins Club with Herb’s sister Margie (Leitz) and Mel Nadler. Married to Herb for 66 years until his passing in 2015, Joan & Herb retired to Phoenix, AZ in 1986 to be with their 2 sons, who had moved to Phoenix in 1974 and 1976. Having taken up golf in Bloomfield Hills, MI. a few years earlier, Joan became active at both Biltmore Golf Club, Phoenix, and Pinetop Country Club in Pinetop, AZ. They played many rounds of golf together, and perhaps just to keep Herb humble, Joan had a hole in one at the Biltmore in 1989. They were a magical couple!! Joan’s love of family was always her first priority. Mom helped plan many family trips with Herb, her 2 sons, and Steve's 2 grandsons, Josh and Aaron. When Herb passed in 2015, Joan continued with her positive and upbeat attitude, welcoming 4 Great Grandkids from Josh Leitz (Phoenix) and his wife Kehau (Hawaii). As a GG ( Great Grandmother ) Joan baked the best chocolate chip cookies! At La Siena Senior Living Community, where she resided the last 2 years, Mom was known as "Cookie Lady!" Joan is survived by her two sons, Steve (Phoenix, AZ) and Bob (Maui, HI. ), grandson Joshua William Leitz & Kehau, great grandsons Samuel Kuhi, Kavika Alohi, Lev Makai, a great-granddaughter Akea Lani, and grandson Aaron Samuel Leitz of Yuma, AZ. Arrangements were made by Sinai Mortuary, with private graveside services held at Mt. Sinai Cemetery September 25th. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations be made to either Hospice of the Valley (https://www.hov.org/) or City of Hope https://www.cityofhope.org/giving