Dolores M. Leder

Dolores Marianna Leder was born on February 21st, 1929, in Gallup, New Mexico, just at the start of the Great Depression. She was the youngest of 11 children. Her father, Meliton Romero, died when she was only 4 so life was hard for the family and Mom learned early the value of a dollar and hard work. From her mother, Flora Duran Romero, she learned a deep love of God and a desire to serve that she held all her life. Dolores entered the convent at age 14. She became a trained nurse and one of the first X-ray technicians. She loved math and science and was also a talented artist and sang in the choir. Mom was smart, accomplished and determined and she liked to tell us stories of the many tasks she performed while nursing including doing surgeries and delivering babies. After 9 years in the convent, she found she really wanted a family of her own and left the order. She married Philip H. Leder when she was 24. Their union produced 6 children in quick succession: Philip Anthony, Elaine Dolores (Rachko), Mary Gayle (Sweeney), Rose Anna (Steadman), Flora Diana (Wright) and William Roman.

When all the kids were still young, our Father took ill and Mom supported the family by working 2 and sometimes 3 jobs! She was tireless. While working and raising a large family she somehow still found time to sew, knit, crochet, paint, do carpentry and all kinds of artistic projects. All her life, Mom found creative ways to express her talents. It seemed there wasn’t any project she couldn’t take on. She made doll clothes and all kinds of dolls themselves, articulated teddy bears, upholstered furniture, every kind of Christmas decoration, to name just a few. When a lot of the other kids wore homemade clothes that looked shabby, the sweaters, dresses, hats, mittens that my mother made always brought us compliments and we were asked where they could be obtained. It was great to tell people that they’d have to ask Mom. Did I mention she was also a great cook? Our friends loved to come over for dinners at our house. She loved to bake and when she had time she would do a lot of it, especially around the holidays.

Mom became the head of the X-ray department at the Polyclinic in the sixties. She was an excellent manager of people and her great organizational skills made the department a success. At home, she accepted the challenges of raising teenagers all approximately a year apart! She did a great job, teaching us all how to love unconditionally by her fierce devotion to her family.

Our Father passed away, and Mom met and married Rodney L. Hinman. In Rod, Mom found a kindred spirit. They created a life of travel and unending projects. There was always something new they would get into including making homemade wine, liqueurs, cooking large batches of chilies, putting up jars of all kinds of preserves. It seemed they were always in search of the best ingredients and would take off on journeys to different states, even, to get the best blueberries for jams (Oregon), or the best chilies (New Mexico). Mom and Rod had many great adventures that they documented in movies and pictures and in the many stories they loved to relate at family get-togethers. After every trip they always brought back multiple unique, thoughtful and fun gifts for each of the kids and now all of the grandkids as well.

Each Easter we would all look forward to the arrival of Mom and Rod as they delivered an Easter “Lamb Cake” to each one of their children’s families. Every Christmas Mom would have knitted someone a stocking, and made multiple afghans or hats and gloves. Always a different pattern or color or something cool Mom had decided to try.

Mom delighted in every birth of each new family member. Nothing brought her more happiness than seeing them grow. She delighted in every visit and every picture or video. Her family made her proud and she loved to tell all her friends about them. As Mom’s health problems worsened as she aged, her courage and fortitude shone through. Her great faith and love of family carried her. Rod cared for her tenderly, tirelessly, and without complaint through all her surgeries and procedures. She moved to Providence Mount St. Vincent in 2014 and where they made many good friends. Mom loved it at the Mount and enjoyed meals and good times there listening to music and the friendly staff who helped care for her. Rod’s and Mom’s love story is one for the ages: Their love and devotion to each other without question brought Mom more years of life. We owe much to our step-father for his unending dedication and care for our Mother. Mom was determined to live long enough to ensure Rod would be well taken care of and she accomplished that.

Finally, although her spirit never tired, Mom’s body gave up on January 8th, 2017. While her physical presence may be gone, the life lessons she taught, the example she provided, her pure love, heart and bright smile live on. She is survived by 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank all of the wonderful staff and friends at Providence Mt. St. Vincent (PMSV) who made Mom’s final years a wonderful experience in a kind and caring environment.

Funeral mass will be held at PMSV, 1 pm Friday, January 20, 2017 in the Chapel with reception in the dining room to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Mom asked any memorials be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and/or St. Labre Indian School.

Thank you.

Arrangements entrusted to Bleitz Funeral Home of Seattle, Washington.