Ardath E. Lei, age 79 of Freeport, IL, passed away Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Parkview Home in Freeport. She was born June 22, 1937 in Freeport; the daughter of the late Roy and Agnes (Drake) Rademaker. She married Charles Lei on June 15, 1963; he died October 10, 2013.
Ardath graduated from Pleasant Prairie Academy in German Valley, IL and Freeport High School in 1955. She then went on to Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Freeport. She worked as a registered OB Nurse at Freeport Memorial Hospital and as Staff Nurse for Stephenson Nursing Center. Along with being a nurse, she was also a homemaker and loved raising her children. She was a member of St. John United Church of Christ in Freeport. In their younger years, Ardath and Charles enjoyed bowling together. She also enjoyed playing cards and piano. She was an avid baseball fan, especially of the Chicago Cubs. Most of all, she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and going to their activities.
She is survived by her four children, Mark (Natasha) Lei, Janet Lei, Daniel (Stephanie) Lei and Matthew (Jill) Lei all of Freeport; six grandchildren, Kristin, Mary, Anna, Mackenzie, Mason, and Sydney all of Freeport; sister-in-law, Doris Lei; two nieces, Debra and Cindy; and cousins Kenneth Drake of Baileyville and Charlotte McGinnis of Freeport. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles; and infant son.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, February 11th at 11:00 am at St. John United Church of Christ in Freeport. There will be a visitation before the service beginning at 9:00 am. Interment will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport. A memorial fund has been established in her name.