VIRGINIA G. LEYES

Nov. 22, 1927 - Jan. 15, 2012
SOUTH BEND - Surrounded by her loving family, Virginia G. Leyes, 84, passed away in the IU Health North Hospital in Carmel, Indiana, on Sunday, January 15, 2012, at 4:35 a.m. Ginny was born to John W. & Gladys Grant on November 22, 1927, in South Bend, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Harold J. Leyes Sr.

She is survived by her loving children, Harold J. Leyes Jr. (Joyce) of Fort Myers, Florida, Deborah A. Fairfax (Barry) of Carmel, Indiana, Douglas J. Leyes (Kathy) of South Bend, Nancy L. Myrland (John) of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Frank A. Leyes (Jennifer) of Boones Mill, Virginia; eight grandchildren, who brought immense joy and pride into her life, Erin, Molly, Patrick, Sean, Micah, Nora, Isaiah and Daniel; and three great-grandchildren.

Her sister, Jeanne Bertles, preceded her in death. Also surviving are one niece, Barbara Mitalo (Vito) of Naples, Florida, and two nephews, William Bertles (Darcy) of Lakewood, Colorado, and Robert Bertles, Jr. (Tammy) of South Bend.

Ginny attended Holy Cross Grade School, South Bend Central High School, and Indiana University, where she majored in Voice.

Ginny sang on the radio on the Harlan Hogan Show on WSBT Radio. Also, when she was young, she accomplished one of the highlights of her life. She was able to play the organ at the venue where The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed in Salt Lake City, Utah. She worked as a secretary before beginning her lifelong occupation as mother, homemaker and caregiver. She was an avid golfer and lifelong member of the Morris Park Country Club. On July 20, 1966, Ginny and her husband Harold achieved holes-in-one on the same day, on the same hole, and in the same hour. To this day, this feat has never been equaled by any husband and wife golfers. She also achieved a second hole-in-one during her golfing career. Mom won the Morris Park Country Club Grandmother's Golf Tournament on two occasions. She spent over 10 years as the chairperson of the Morris Park Country Club Junior Golf Program. Wednesday mornings were spent coordinating and scheduling young golfers in different age groups. Mom was truly a "surrogate Mother" by teaching the juniors the pleasures of playing golf and, more importantly, appropriate behavior and etiquette on the golf course.

Mom also loved to watch Notre Dame football games and was their biggest fan. At a time when many senior citizens might slow down, Mom learned how to tap dance in her early 60s. She spent many hours entertaining others with her newfound skill, and loved the fact that she brought joy into others lives by doing this. She also developed an additional skill when she was 72 years old. A Web TV system was purchased for her so she could stay in touch with her family and friends. After a few growing pains, she developed competent e-mail skills, as well as expanding her mind with many of the games/puzzles on the Internet. She eventually enjoyed it so much, she purchased two of her own laptops, including her own "fire red" laptop to stay in touch with the outside world. Mom was living proof, you are never too old to start something new, and loved every minute of it. Mom loved the new friends she made at her new home in Stonebridge Villas in Mishawaka. She designed her Villa with her favorite colors, even impressing the contractors with her exquisite taste.

Mom spent her winters in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, where she enjoyed the warm climate and her many friends. The highlight of her winter stay would always be when her children and grandchildren came to visit. Her grandchildren were the apple of her eye, and she loved to show her friends how proud she was of her family. Ginny was a parishioner at St. Anthony de Padua Parish in South Bend.

Donations may be made in her memory to the Saint Joseph's High School Capital Campaign Fund, 1441 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46628; or to The Notre Dame Glee Club, c/o Professor Dan Stowe, 102 DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Friends may celebrate her life with us at Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 19th. Friends may visit from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. A Rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by a family tribute open to all. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 20, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the Leyes family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Jan. 18, 2012.

02/07/2023 EJS