Peggie J. Leonard, 88, of Hampshire, passed away on October 21, 2026.
Peggie was born on December 26, 1937, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the daughter of Floyd and Mary Lee (Hardin) Lunceford. She married Jack Leonard, and together they built a life and family filled with love and cherished memories. Peggie lived in Wheeling for 30 years before moving to Hampshire.
Peggie enjoyed many of life’s simple pleasures, including reading, flower gardening, country-style cooking, and cheering on her favorite sports teams. A loyal football fan, she rooted for both the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, and she was also a devoted Chicago Cubs fan. She was especially known for her delicious home cooking, including her coleslaw, potato salad, and banana pudding. Thanksgiving was never complete without Peggie making the turkey, a tradition that brought her family together year after year.
Above all else, Peggie loved her family. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who treasured time spent with those closest to her. Her love was shared through family gatherings where her home-cooked meals were cherished by all who knew her.
Peggie is survived by her sons, James (Kelley) Leonard and Randall Leonard; her grandchildren, Benjamin Leonard, Alexander Leonard, Jacqulyn (Jimmy) McGaughey, Sabrina (Nate) Burns, Julia (Alan) Leonard, and Paige (Alex) Rader; and her great-grandchildren, Charlie and Vivian.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jack; her parents, Floyd and Mary Lee Lunceford; and her four siblings, Mary Lynn, Gloria, Raymond, and Tilly.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. with a funeral service celebrating her life beginning at 11:00 a.m.at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Road, Huntley. The funeral service will be livestreamed. Please paste the following link in your browser: https://plan.passare.com/planner/encore/event/32979718. Entombment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation at kidney.org/donate.
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I'm sending prayers and condolences 🙏 to the family!!!! Rest well Grandma 💖 job well done!!!