Delores Eileen (Dee) Leffel

Delores Eileen (Dee) Leffel, 97, passed away peacefully of old age on Sunday, August 14, 2022, at Wesley Glen Retirement Community in Columbus, Ohio. She is survived by her four children Gregory (Mary) Leffel of Lexington, Kentucky, Elizabeth (James) Himsworth, James (Linda) Leffel, and Judith Leffel, all of Columbus, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. A long-time Columbus resident, Dee was born in Wabash County, Indiana on March 26, 1925, to Fred and Catherine (Humbert) Delk; and married the late Hubert L. Leffel on April 15, 1952. A graduate of Manchester High School and Fort Wayne Hospital School of Nursing, her nursing career included training as an U.S. Army Nurse Cadet during World War II. Well known in Columbus, she was Director of Nursing at the Thurber Village Health Center, and the founding Director of Nursing as well as founding director of the Assistance in Living facility at Friendship Village of Dublin Retirement Community. Long involved in Christian lay ministry, Dee served as Sunday School director at St. Marks Episcopal Church in Upper Arlington, and in retirement as a house fellowship leader at Dwell Community Church in Westerville until earlier this year. Daughter of a librarian and self-described library rat, she read voraciously and stayed informed even as her eyesight began to fail. Adored as a mother, cherished as a grandmother, beloved by her many friends, Dee was vibrant, engaging, creative, and fun. For good reason she was called Dee-lightful. At the end she was torn between passing on to be with her Creator and regret at missing the party. She will be deeply missed. Family and friends may call on Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 1:30 to 3:00pm at Moreland Funeral Home, 55 East Schrock Road, Westerville, Ohio 43081. Dees memorial service will follow from 3:00 to 4:30pm.