Esther Leech

Esther Jane (Christophersen) Leech, 94, a life-long Zion resident, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 6, 2017, at her home with son, Ed and caregiver Kay, at her side. Esther Jane was born on August 28, 1922 in Zion to Daniel and Gertrude Rachel (Butler) Christophersen. She graduated in 1939 with the last class to graduate from the Zion Parochial Schools. She married Richard A. Leech in Geneva, New York on December 11, 1942 where Dick was stationed in the Navy. Esther worked side-by-side with her husband, Dick, who owned and operated the Cake Box Bakery in North Chicago from 1953 to 1958, then moved the business to Zion in 1958. Esther retired in 1982, and enjoyed springtime in Florida with Dick until the late eighties when her children watched her lovingly take care of Dick until his death in 1991. Esther enjoyed giving her time to her children and grandchildren, enjoying park district trips with girlfriends, helping at the bakery and interacting with customers. She assisted in the move of the bakery in 2004 when it became the Cake Box Bakery and Café. This in time, created a Friday afternoon weekly lunch at the bakery with girlfriends, and anyone who wanted to join the group. Esther was also a member of the Shiloh Park Ladies Golf Association and Glen Flora Country Club, enjoying Monday and Tuesday mornings on the golf course. Esther was a life-long member of Christ Community Church (formerly Christian Catholic Church). She loved to tell people of her heritage and how her relatives came to Zion from Australia in the early 1900's to build a City for God. She was a God-loving woman and modeled it throughout her life. She is survived by her 5 children, Nancy (Jim) Shields of New Site, MS, Carolyn (Dick) Leach of Muscatine, IA, Edgar Leech of Zion, Rhonda (Dennis) Johnson of Beach Park, and Richard B. (Debbie) Leech of Waukesha, WI; 12 grandchildren, Scott, Sharon, Darin, Rebecca, Chelsea, Dennis, Tracy, Kelly, Tim, Corrie, Drew, and Ben; 11 great-grand children; and one beloved brother and sister-in-law, Sydney D. and Irene (Anderson) Christophersen of Burnsville, MN. and many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to our caregivers for the past three years, Anna Carson, Erica Contreras, and Kay Bricco. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard in 1991; and her special first cousin Rachel LaBelle in 2016. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 12:00 noon at Christ Community Church, 2500 Dowie Memorial Drive, Zion, with Pastor Ken Langley, officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers donations to Camp Zion would be appreciated.