Della Mae Leister, age 87, of Centreville, passed away Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, surrounded by her loved ones, at the Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Mansfield, OH on July 23, 1921, the daughter of Harry and Helen (Mocklin) Barr. Della Mae moved to Michigan in April 1933, and married Ralph Leister on August 17, 1942 in St. Louis, MO. He preceded her in death on August 14, 1996.

Della Mae enjoyed raising her family with Ralph. She also liked playing cards and Yahtzee and working in her yard. She had been a dedicated employee for Ross Laboratories in Sturgis for 33 years. Della Mae was a member of the Riverside Church in Three Rivers and was devoted to her prayer group.

Surviving Della Mae are her daughters Laura (John) Walters, Toledo, OH, Linda (Robert) Case, Three Rivers, 7 grandchildren Brenda (David) Buck, Christina (Chandler) Hansen, John T. (Nicole) Walters, Tara (Max) Coomer, Kristy Newman, Anna Newman, Nicholas Case, 6 great grandchildren Cassandra, Molly, Jack, Camden, Megan and Mya, and sister Bernadine Strange of Sturgis. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ralph, and sister Kathleen Ewers.

Relatives and friends will be received Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at Eley Funeral Homes in Centreville, where Religious Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 7th, with Pastor Denny Kirouac of Riverside Church officiating. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.