Anne (Kelley) Schleicher, age 96 of Norton, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026. She was the beloved wife of the late Leo R. Schleicher, Jr, who she married in 1951 and with whom she enjoyed over 66 years of a most special bond.
Anne was born in Mansfield on February 10, 1930 and was the loving daughter of the late J. Spencer and Ethel (Holt) Kelley. She was predeceased by her brothers J. Spencer Jr,. Paul, Gerard, Robert and the Reverends Raymond and William Kelley and by her sisters-in-law Anita and Philomena. She is survived by her sister Jane (Kelley) Fales and sister-in law Carol DeYeso.
Anne graduated with honors from Mansfield High School and with high honors from the Fisher Business School in Boston. She then worked as a stenographer at the Foxboro Company until her marriage, at which time she left to become a homemaker and to begin her most important life journey as a mother, a role which she lovingly and faithfully fulfilled for over 74 years. Later she would add the roles of grandmother and great-grandmother, both of which she relished, and which brought her much joy and happiness.
Anne was the loving mother of Leo III and his wife Lillian of Raynham, John and his wife Donna of Canton, Karen Barney and her husband James of Norton, Mary Wright and her fiancé James Houde of Mansfield, Paul and his wife Linda of Norton, Nancy Pollihan and her husband John of Chesterfield MO, Geralyn Skoczylas and her husband Thomas of Dartmouth, Thomas and his wife Deborah of Chester NH, Kevin and his wife Kristin of Norton, and Anne Marie Dubuc and her husband Chad of North Attleboro. She was predeceased by her infant daughter, Amy, her infant grandson, Dylan and her son-in-law Arthur Colvin. Anne was the cherished grandmother of 28 surviving grandchildren and of 5 step-grandchildren as well as the greatly loved great-grandmother of 32. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
After her children grew up and left home, Anne became active in the community. She taught pre-school for 14 years at The Country School and was a charter member of the Norton Community Lions Club. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church where she was involved in the Catholic Women’s Club and the St. Vincent DePaul Society. She also helped bring others into the faith by participating in the R.C.I.A. program. In 1991, in recognition of her church service, she was awarded the “Marian Medal” by then Bishop Sean O’Malley.
Anne very much enjoyed camping with her family and friends and traveling with Leo throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. In later years, she enjoyed making puzzles and watching TV. She especially liked Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and any game involving one of the Boston sports teams.
Anne’s biggest devotion in life was to her husband Leo and the family they created. She created a home filled with love and happiness where everyone was made to feel special. Her love was spread wide and deep across 3 generations, and nothing made her prouder than to see the success of her children and nothing brought her more joy than spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always beamed whenever the younger ones would come to see “Grammy” or “Great-Grammy” and she would eagerly engage with them about their lives, school events or activities. She often said that she felt blessed to have been given the time to spend with them. Without doubt, the memories she created for and with each of them will be long cherished! Her sense of humor, gentle way, and ability to love everyone equally and everyone as an individual will forever be engrained in each person she touched.
Her funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 8th at 10:30 A.M. in Saint. Mary’s Church, 1 Power Street. in Norton. Burial will follow at Saint. Mary’s Cemetery in Mansfield.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, April 7th from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp Street (Off Route 140, Taunton Avenue) in Norton.
In lieu of flowers, Anne requested that donations in her memory be made to either St. Vincent de Paul Society, 1 Power St. Norton, MA. 02766, the Norton Lions Club, P.O. Box I, Norton, MA 02766 or the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 (or via dana-farber.org/gift).
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com
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