Barbara Katherine Leingang

Barbara passed away suddenly on August 12, 2015, surrounded by her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her parents Ajay and Katherine LaVeille. Her death resulted from complications caused by a freak fall on the first day of her vacation in Leavenworth WA the week prior. She is survived by her husband Clarence of 57 years, brother John LaVeille, her 5 children David (Mary), Sharyl (John), Donald (Misty), Dennis (Pam), Janet (Tom) and her 11 grandchildren Cal, Kirk, Emily, AJ, Audrey, Brooke, Emily, Jared, Aaron, Katy and Victoria who always called her OMA. Barbara was born in Sumas WA on December 19, 1936 to Ajay and Katherine LaVeille and grew up in Tacoma and Fife where she attended Visitation School, St. Leos High School and Fife High School. It was at Visitation where she first met Clarence. They were both in the school band and every Friday she had the job of putting away his bass drum after practice. They later reconnected at Seattle University. In June 1958 Barbara graduated from Seattle University receiving a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and also married Clarence in August. They moved to California as Clarence was stationed at Camp Pendleton and then later moved back to Tacoma to start and raise a family. Barbara worked as a Medical Technologist for Doctors Hospital and then MultiCare in the Transfusion Department at Tacoma General until her death. She was an active member of Sacred Heart and St Anns Catholic Church along with Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court #977, Seattle Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, Serra Club and Washington State Pro Life/March for Life organizations. While at Sacred Heart she was active in the Mothers Club. As a member of St Anns, Barbara and Clarence wrote a weekly column in the South End Parishes bulletin titled Our Treasured Traditions promoting Catholic Faith and Teachings and were lectors at church. She also was a member of the Swiss Ladies Society and volunteered her talents every summer since 2002 teaching embroidery at the Swiss Kids Camp, a heritage camp for kids 8 to 13 years old. Starting in 2002, for the next 4 years she tutored grade school children at Visitation School. Barbara will forever be remembered for her wonderful pies, fresh baked bread and her many other culinary skills. She was an excellent seamstress and knitter. She never left the house without a knitting project. Barbara enjoyed working in her garden and on projects around the house. She and Clarence kept busy following grandchildren from one activity to another. She was the rock of the family and her Catholic Community and will be greatly missed by all. Rosary will be recited at 10:30 AM followed by Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 AM on September 11, 2015 at St. Anns Parish 7025 S Park Ave Tacoma. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Visitation School, Holy Rosary School, Catholic Daughters Court #977 or the Swiss Kids Camp.