Online Obituaries

Robert S. Leja, 83, of Union, CT., passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on November 9, 2025 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT. He was born on November 14, 1941 in Holyoke, MA and was the son of the late Stanley and Beatrice (Lapointe) Leja. Robert was a 1961 graduate of Chicopee High School and Coast Guard Veteran. Robert was a hard-working, award-winning and beloved by all restaurant manager at the Friendly’s Ice Cream Corp. for three decades. He enjoyed umpiring his daughter Wendy’s softball games when she was a kid, riding his horse Pepper, attending auctions for antiques, and summer family vacations at the Cape. Robert lived in Windsor with his family for over twenty years before retiring to the quiet corner in Union. There, he enjoyed the outdoors by building rustic rock walls, and puttering around the yard with his beloved dog, Bella. He is survived by his two amazing daughters, Wendy Leja of CT., Lauren Leja and her partner Michael McInnis of Boston and his former wife and high school sweetheart, Christine (Kendra) McNeil of Cape Cod. Besides his parents, Robert is predeceased by his brother, John Leja. Our Dad will be missed. His burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Chicopee. All services are private.