LELAND — Kathleen Leonard Rebeck, age 73, of Leland, NC, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2025. She was born on October 26, 1951 in Queens, NY, the sixth and youngest child of Martin Leonard and Margaret Murray Leonard.
Kathy was known for her amazing laugh, her warmth and kindness, and her dedication to her family and friends. She went to great lengths to maintain and nourish her connections with loved ones.
Kathy loved life and looked for beauty everywhere. Her interests were varied and included travel, scuba diving, quilting, bird watching, African drumming, reading, and dream group. She volunteered in her community, through Habitat for Humanity, the local quilting guild, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and many other community organizations over the years.
Kathy graduated from the University of Maryland. She explored many work paths in her life, including early work as a medical assistant and self-employment as a desktop publisher, before ultimately finding her passion as a practitioner of Five-Element Acupuncture. She completed her degree in acupuncture at the Tai Sophia Institute (now the Maryland University of Integrative Health).
Kathy met her husband Ken, who cherished her dearly, at age 16 and they spent over five decades exploring the world together.
Kathy is survived by her husband of 53 years, Kenneth John Rebeck (they have been together for 57 years; her son Erik Martin Rebeck; her daughter Rafia Sharon Rebeck; nieces and nephews Kevin, Kathleen, Marianne, Luke, Garrett, Drew, Brian, Gloria, Daniel, Adam, Jessie, and all of their children; along with extended family members and a beloved circle of friends.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Martin and Margaret Leonard; siblings Joanie, Gerry, Marty, Peggy, and John; and cousins Owen and Kathie
A service to honor and celebrate Kathy’s life will be held at Wilmington Funeral Chapel on Saturday June 7, 2025 at 3:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center.
Kathy will be deeply missed and forever beloved.
