Leonilda Hensley

Leonilda AntoinettaZacchigna Hensley, 84, of Jopling Mill Road in Bedford, Virginia, died January20, 2012. Born to the late Maria Orzan and Giuseppe Zacchigna on January 28,1927, in picturesque Umag, Croatia, Leonilda spent her early years enjoying herlife on the Istrian peninsula overlooking the Adriatic Sea where, as an onlychild, she attended Catholic schools and helped her parents harvest the grapesfrom their vineyards .  WhenJosip BrozTitoestablished a communist government in Yugoslavia in 1945, Leonilda’s father, anardent anti-communist, escaped government forces by fleeing to the relativesafety of nearby Trieste, Italy. Leonilda later joined her father in Trieste, where she worked  as a telephone operator on the US airbase. Itwas there that she met and married American serviceman Kyle Leonard Hensley,who brought her back to his hometown of Bedford in 1958.  A patient and loving mother of seven, Leonilda is remembered for her devotion to herchildren, her strong work ethic and her ability to laugh and enjoy life evenwhen times were difficult.  Through theyears, she made her home a place where her children, their spouses, and theirmany friends, almost all of whom called her “Mama,” felt comfortable and fromwhich they never left hungry.  An avidsports fan and the mother of seven athletes, four of whom played college ball,and the grandmother of twelve, Leonilda never missed a game unless it could notbe helped. No matter how raucous the crowd, Leonilda’s voice could always beheard over the din, exhorting a loved one to take the shot, hit the ball, or runover an opponent. Age only added weapons to her arsenal of support, her caneoften used as a drumstick to pound against the metal bleachers of sportsstands.  There was neverenough time in a day for Leonilda, and she took full advantage of the freedomsoffered by her adopted country.   Shebecame an American citizen on July 4, 1980 in naturalization ceremonies held atThomas Jefferson’s  Monticello inCharlottesville, Virginia.  She enjoyedholding weekend yard sales at the store of her dear friends, Dave and JeanPatterson, on Route 122 North, and selling Avon products to area women.She couldoften be seen in her little red truck on the back roads of Bedford Countymaking beauty product deliveries to her valued customers.  Leonilda issurvived by her seven children and twelve grandchildren who are, in order, Dr.Roberta and Olin Melton of Austin, Texas, and their daughter, Kendra, an artistliving in Burbank, California; Robert and Becky Hensley and their threechildren, Ryan, Alex and Rebecca, of Bedford; Nell and Dean Fookes and theirsons, Derrick and Christopher, of Florence, Kentucky; Chris and Dave Griffin,and their three children, Michael, Andrew and Claire, of Atlanta, Georgia;  Tony and Jenny Hensley of Houston,Texas;  Marion and Randy Viar and theirdaughters, Savannah and Abby, of Buford, Georgia; and Joe and Kim Hensley, andtheir son, Tyler, of Bedford. Leonilda is also survived by two of her latehusband’s sisters and their husbands, Gail and Bill Cunningham of Bedford, andOpal and Lewis Eubank of Bedford; her late husband’s paternal aunt, GladysHensley Wood of Bedford; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was precededin death by her sister, Ortenzia Zacchigna, who died at the age of six months.  Leonilda’s familyinvites all those who knew her to visit with them Monday night, January 23,from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Burch- Messier Walnut Street Chapel, 1235 WalnutStreet, Bedford.  Celebration of Her Lifewill be held at the same location the next day, January 24, at 11:30 a.m. with FatherSalvador Añonuevo presiding.  Followinginterment in Greenwood Cemetery, the family will host a reception at theOrzan-Zacchigna Bedford home, 831 Pinecrest Ave.   Arrangementsby Burch-Messier Walnut Street Chapel, Bedford, 540-586-7360