Obituaries
Obituary for Mary L. Leitner
PEORIA – Mary L. Leitner, 87, of Peoria died at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home on Thursday morning, January 4, 2018, surrounded by family.
Mary was born on June 14, 1930, to James and Florence (Stone) Harrison of Neponset, IL. She married Leo Leitner on June 20, 1953, in Peoria.
Surviving are her children, Elizabeth (Don) Kumpf of Peoria, Marcella (John) James of Peoria, Kay Leitner of Peoria and Timothy (Leslie) Leitner of Pekin; six grandchildren; six great-granddaughters; foster children Tam (Chi) Dinh, Thu (Thang) Nguyen, Truc (Tien) Pham, Lien (Thanh) Ngo, Binh (Huong) Pham, Bac (Pam) Pham, Chad (Sue) Williams, Nhi Pham; 18 foster grandchildren and four foster great-grandchildren. Also surviving is her niece, Judy Zager; and the Foster family: Tom (Stephanie) Foster, Jeffery Foster, Greg Foster and Katie Foster, and Samantha (Kiem) Ngo. Mary also brought into our family Dr. Kanti (Debbie) Shah.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, in June 2012; her parents; and two sisters, Lucille and Dorothy.
Mary graduated from Neponset High School in 1948, then attended and graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in Kewanee in 1952.
Mary worked at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center for 52 years, working as head nurse on the pediatrics floor, supervisor of Neonatal Nursery (NICU) and Nursing Services. Her final retirement was in July 2014. Mary’s picture hung on the OSF St. Francis Medical Center Legend Board for many years. Mary was active in the Senior Saints of OSF for many years.
Mary was a member St. Ann's Catholic Church. She was very involved in the Watch program and hosted bible studies in her home.
Mary became a foster parent in 1981 through Catholic Social Services. Mary and Leo were awarded in 1982 the Foster Parents of the Year by the Catholic Social Services.
Mary was an avid quilter. She belonged to Gems of the Prairie Quilters and was a founding member of the "Mary Quilters," a group of nursing colleagues all named Mary--Mary Henderson, Mary Otten, Mary Garramone, Mary Ellen Ripper and (Mary) Joanie Potts (with one Sue--Wozniak) who met once a week for friendship and quilting for many years. Together, they contributed many quilts to St. Jude Kids, Center for Prevention of Abuse and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at OSF.
The family would like to thank sister-in-law Tien Pham for her loving care of Mary during this time. They would also like to thank the nurses and doctors of OSF St. Francis Medical Center ICU and the staff at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home for their wonderful care, and all those who prayed for Mary. Special thank you to her church family at St. Ann Catholic Church, especially Deacon Craig Reaktenwalt, Deacon Bruce Steiner, and Father Terry.
A funeral Mass and celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Peoria. Father Don Roszkowski and Father Dominic Garramone will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Wright & Salmon Mortuary, with a prayer service at 3:45 p.m. and a rosary at 7:00 p.m. Further visitation will be 30 minutes before the service at the church. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, West Peoria.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials are made to OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home and St. Ann Catholic Church.
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Mary was born on June 14, 1930, to James and Florence (Stone) Harrison of Neponset, IL. She married Leo Leitner on June 20, 1953, in Peoria.
Surviving are her children, Elizabeth (Don) Kumpf of Peoria, Marcella (John) James of Peoria, Kay Leitner of Peoria and Timothy (Leslie) Leitner of Pekin; six grandchildren; six great-granddaughters; foster children Tam (Chi) Dinh, Thu (Thang) Nguyen, Truc (Tien) Pham, Lien (Thanh) Ngo, Binh (Huong) Pham, Bac (Pam) Pham, Chad (Sue) Williams, Nhi Pham; 18 foster grandchildren and four foster great-grandchildren. Also surviving is her niece, Judy Zager; and the Foster family: Tom (Stephanie) Foster, Jeffery Foster, Greg Foster and Katie Foster, and Samantha (Kiem) Ngo. Mary also brought into our family Dr. Kanti (Debbie) Shah.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, in June 2012; her parents; and two sisters, Lucille and Dorothy.
Mary graduated from Neponset High School in 1948, then attended and graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in Kewanee in 1952.
Mary worked at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center for 52 years, working as head nurse on the pediatrics floor, supervisor of Neonatal Nursery (NICU) and Nursing Services. Her final retirement was in July 2014. Mary’s picture hung on the OSF St. Francis Medical Center Legend Board for many years. Mary was active in the Senior Saints of OSF for many years.
Mary was a member St. Ann's Catholic Church. She was very involved in the Watch program and hosted bible studies in her home.
Mary became a foster parent in 1981 through Catholic Social Services. Mary and Leo were awarded in 1982 the Foster Parents of the Year by the Catholic Social Services.
Mary was an avid quilter. She belonged to Gems of the Prairie Quilters and was a founding member of the "Mary Quilters," a group of nursing colleagues all named Mary--Mary Henderson, Mary Otten, Mary Garramone, Mary Ellen Ripper and (Mary) Joanie Potts (with one Sue--Wozniak) who met once a week for friendship and quilting for many years. Together, they contributed many quilts to St. Jude Kids, Center for Prevention of Abuse and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at OSF.
The family would like to thank sister-in-law Tien Pham for her loving care of Mary during this time. They would also like to thank the nurses and doctors of OSF St. Francis Medical Center ICU and the staff at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home for their wonderful care, and all those who prayed for Mary. Special thank you to her church family at St. Ann Catholic Church, especially Deacon Craig Reaktenwalt, Deacon Bruce Steiner, and Father Terry.
A funeral Mass and celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Peoria. Father Don Roszkowski and Father Dominic Garramone will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Wright & Salmon Mortuary, with a prayer service at 3:45 p.m. and a rosary at 7:00 p.m. Further visitation will be 30 minutes before the service at the church. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, West Peoria.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials are made to OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home and St. Ann Catholic Church.
Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
9
Jan
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Wright & Salmon Mortuary
2416 N North St
Peoria, IL 61604
Prayer Service at 3:45 PM and recitation of the rosary at 7:00 PM
Visitation
Wednesday
10
Jan
10:00 AM
- 10:30 AM
St. Ann Catholic Church
1010 S Louisa St
Peoria, IL 61605
Funeral Mass
Wednesday
10
Jan
10:30 AM
St. Ann Catholic Church
1010 S Louisa St
Peoria, IL 61605
Memorial Contribution
OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home
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