Colleen A. Leber

Colleen A. Leber, 82, of Rockford, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2014, peacefully in her home surrounded by her family. Born July 25, 1931, in Rockford, the daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Murray) Donahue. She graduated from Muldoon High School, Class of 1949. She also attended Rockford College. On January 19, 1952, she married Donald R. Leber at St. Peters Church in Rockford; he predeceased her on March 2, 2014. She owned LA Floral, where she specialized in silk arrangements. She was a member of the Northern Illinois Botanical Society. She was very active in her Catholic faith, being a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Catholic Women's League, Catholic Social Service Auxiliary, Holy Family Women's Guild, St. Anne Center Auxiliary and St. Elizabeth's Center, where she and other volunteers created layettes for new mothers. Donald and Colleen also were known for the Halloween Hot Dog House, providing trick-or-treaters with dinner on Halloween for 42 years.

Survived by her children, Kathleen Harms, David Leber, Karen (Bruce) Nelson, Laura (Michael) Harkness, Dan Leber and Chad Leber; grandchildren, Kara (Chris) Birnbaum, Kevin Harms, Laren Harms, Brett (Jennifer Jacky) Nelson, Brook (Scott) Stout, Sarah Harkness, Trevor Harkness, Donny Blake Harkness and Paige Leber and great-grandchildren, Garren Nelson, Kahlee Birnbaum, Justen Birnbaum and Easton Streed Harkness; sister, Elaine (Bob, predeceased) Neiswanger. Also, predeceased by her son, Larry Leber.

Memorial mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Road. Private interment in Calvary Catholic Cemetery immediately following the mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Poor Clares Corpus Christi Monastery, 2111 S. Main Street, Rockford, IL 61102.