Mary L Leaver

Born May 14, 1924 in Peoria to Charles Cameron and Helena (Wierschem) Castle, she married John Vernon Leaver on February 12, 1941 in Iowa. He died July 8, 1989. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Todd Leaver; one daughter, Belinda “Chris” Spencer; three brothers, Vernon Castle, Tommy Castle, and Bud Castle and two sisters, Florence Adams and Mabelle Sommer.

Surviving are five daughters, Carolyn Rothstein of Burnsville, MN, Linda (Steve) Stephens of Branchland, West Virginia, Pamela (Robert) Wygle of Baton Rouge, LA, Tamara (Dave) Cunningham and Monica Leaver, both of Pekin; two sons, Jeff (Chun) Leaver of Poteet, TX and Mark (Dee Dee) Leaver of Pekin; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren and one brother, Jim (Dottie) Castle of California. She also leaves her beloved dog, Dolly Madison.

A homemaker, Mary worked in the bottling department at American Distilling Company in Pekin and Hiram Walker Distilling Company in Peoria, where she also sold K-rations and war bonds during World War II.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin. She also was a member of the Council of Catholic Women and the University of Illinois Home Extension in Pekin. She participated in the TOPS program and was a fan of the Chicago Cubs.

Her funeral Mass will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin. Father Michael Andrejek and Father David Whiteside will officiate. Visitation will be from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be at Parkview Cemetery in Peoria.

Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic School, 300 South 6th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com