Leona Spilka, 97

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – Leona (Zawatsky) Spilka, of Fort Lauderdale, formerly of Providence, passed away Oct. 29, 2022. She was the wife of the late Dr. Norman M. Kahn and the late Samuel Spilka. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Julius J. and Sarah (Michaelson) Zawatsky, she was a longtime resident of the city before moving to Florida in 1990.

Leona was a secretary in the Providence public school system for 26 years before retiring. She was a lifelong member of Temple Emanu-El, Hadassah, the Jewish Home for the Aged and ORT. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Galt Reading Room in Fort Lauderdale.

She is survived by her daughter Deborah Roberts (Stan) of Warwick, stepdaughter Ronnie Kippel (Dr. Gary) of Brooklyn, New York, and three grandchildren, Rachael Kaplan (Ben), David Roberts (Molly) and Aliza Rose Kippel. She adored her four great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Henry, Simon and Max, as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was the mother of the late Robert A. Kahn, sister of the late Albert and Martin Zawatsky, and mother-in-law of the late Stanley Roberts.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Temple Sinai, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, 30 Hagan Ave., Cranston, RI 02920 or Holy Cross Catholic Hospice Unit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she was so beautifully cared for with great dignity.