Wednesday, May 18th, 2016
Christine McDonald
Christine H. McDonald (Ley, Bender), age 94 of Celina and formerly of Versailles, Ohio passed peacefully in her home surrounded by her children on May 16, 2016.
She was born December 24, 1921 in Ft. Loramie, Ohio to the late Clemens and Emma (Seger) Bender. On February 26, 1988 she married Donald McDonald, who preceded her in death on November 11, 2010.
Surviving are six children, Thomas J. (Violet) Ley of Waterville, Ohio; Kenneth E. (Vicki) Ley of Clermont, Florida; Keith J. (Gwen) Ley of Celina; Gerald J. "Jerry" (Michelle) Ley of Celina; 2 daughters - Janet E. (David) Pike of Celina; Joyce A. (Alan) Westgerdes of Coldwater; a step son James J. (Merrit) McDonald of Pickney, Michigan; a step daughter - Cheryl S. (David) Slack of Marion, Ohio; 17 grandchildren (1 deceased); 4 step grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren (1 deceased); 4 step great grandchildren; a brother - Julius 'Norb" Bender of Minster, Ohio; 3 sisters-in-law - Ruth Lochtefeld Bender of Kettering, Ohio; Melba (Kramer) Bender of New Bremen, Ohio; Lois Bender of Minster, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by a son Richard C. Ley; a grandson (Richard Westgerdes); a great grandson (Zachary Feasby); 6 brothers (Albert, Aloysius, Edward, Lawrence, Martin, Victor Bender); 4 sisters (Alvina Cordonnier, Ann Burnaby, Louise Francis, Pauline Schmiesing); 4 brothers-in-law (Melvin Schmiesing, Clarence Cordonnier, Jack Burnaby, Charles Francis) 4 sisters-in-law (Beatrice (Pope) Bender, Clara (Francis) Bender, Ruth (Mescher) Bender, Irene (Wenning) Bender.
She is recognized by her children as a Mother whose devotion to their growing years into successful adulthood is extraordinary.
Christine graduated from Ft. Loramie High School with the Class of 1939. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Celina. In 1987 she retired from the Mercer County Auditors Office.
She was an avid card player, loved to read, dance, travel, play solitaire, and work crossword puzzles.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday May 21, 2016 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina, with Fr. Kenneth G. Alt C.PP.S. officiating. Burial will follow in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Celina.
Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. on Friday May 20, 2016 and from 8:30- 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Lehman-Dzendzel Funeral Home in Celina.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Immaculate Conception Parish or State of the Heart Hospice, 230 West Main Street, Coldwater, Ohio 45828.
Condolences may be left at LehmanDzendzelFH.com.
