October 1, 2011

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Leo J. Hentz, 93, of Route 11, passed away Friday, Sept. 30, at his home. 

Calling hours will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Watertown. A prayer service will be 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the funeral home followed by a funeral Mass celebrated 1 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with Rev. Richard Kennedy officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery.

Born March 22, 1918, in Watertown, the son of Joseph A. and Maria Church Hentz, he attended Norwood schools.

He married Kathleen M. Campbell on Feb. 20, 1943, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with Rev. J. A. Sullivan officiating. She died Feb. 18, 1972. He then married Florence Cook on Dec. 12, 1981, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with Rev. Benoit Dostie officiating, and she died March 7, 1988.

He was a foreman in the Core Room at New York Air Brake and supervisor in the automated line. He then owned and operated Hentz Body and Fender Shop and operated the Hess Station on Route 11, Watertown. After returning to New York Air Brake, he retired in the mid 1970s.

Mr. Hentz was a communicant of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, and a member of both the Holy Name and St. Vincent dePaul Societies. 

He was a lifetime member of the North Pole Fire Dept. and a former member of the American Legion Post 61. 

He was an avid fisherman, deer hunter, and gardener.

Surviving are a son and wife, Joseph C. and Marianne, Las Vegas, Nevada; five daughters, Sr. M. Noel Chabanel (Mary Ellen Hentz), S. S. J., Watertown, Kathleen A. Hentz, Westfield, Christine C. Hentz, Buffalo, Therese L. Hentz and David Ross, Las Vegas, NV, and Margaret M. Hentz and Daniel Neville, Needham, MA; two grandchildren, Michael J. Hentz and Kayla Blatchey, Brooklyn, and Kathleen Hentz Brooks and husband, Christopher, LaQuinta, CA; two great grandchildren, Riley and Colin Brooks; two sisters, Marion Hentz Bond, Norwood, and Loretta Hazleton, Bradenton, FL; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Besides his two wives, he was predeceased by a sister, Katherine Hentz.

The family requests that contributions may be made in his name to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, 320 W. Lynde St., Watertown, NY 13601.

Information provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown