Leslie Jayne (Ledford) Wesley

MADISON- Leslie Jayne (Ledford) Wesley, a strong, independent woman who lived her life with love and genuine compassion and concern for others, died on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, with her daughters by her side at Agrace Hospicecare in Fitchburg. She was 69 years old, born on Dec. 1, 1943 in Madison. Leslie started working at the post office in downtown Madison in 1967, as a way to earn some extra money for the holidays and 32 years later retired as a postmaster. She was a postmaster for years in Waunakee and Windsor and had many customers that grew to love her. She always had something nice to say, loved to joke around and put smiles on people’s faces. She gave out treats to dogs and kids alike. People actually enjoyed going to visit her and many customers became life-long friends. Leslie was a single parent so it was a good thing she had that nice gig at the post office. She spent a lot of time working, yet still managed to make time and provide for her children. One of Leslie’s children developed mental illness during his childhood and she devoted much of her life to taking care of him. Leslie loved to have a good time and was a master at putting people at ease. She would bring people together with her fun loving personality and create communities of friends where ever she was; employees at work, customers at work, moms and dads who lived by her duplex and house in Cottage Grove where she watched her grandchildren, and the ladies at Richmond Hill condominiums. Leslie loved gardening, reading, going out to eat, movies, Downton Abbey and her grandchildren. If Leslie were to be buried, her headstone would read, “Leslie, Born to be a Grandma”. She loved and cherished the time she had with her grandchildren. Leslie was involved in their lives on a daily basis and really got to know and love them. She gave so much of herself to her family, friends and grandchildren. She truly was a selfless person and put other people’s needs before her own. Leslie had a gift of caring for others and showing compassion and support to those in time of need. She despised phonies. She taught her family about unconditional love in the manner in which she lived her life as a true child of Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leland Harvey Ledford and Anna Marie Christine (Dederich) Ledford; her sisters, Joan (Jack) Fesco and Carol (Ed) Werner; her brother, Gordon (Ruth) Ledford; and her baby brother, Dougie Ledford. She is survived by her daughters, Laura (Bill) Weber and Karen (Jeff) Olson and son, Steve Wesley. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Justin, Tristan, Carson and Chad Weber and Chase and Zachary Olson. She is also survived by her sister, Virginia Hawley; other family, including sister-in-law Diane Fitzgerald Charlton; and special friends, Joan McCormick, Clarence Buchanan, and Lisa Becher. Three years ago on Thanksgiving, Leslie informed her family of a breast cancer diagnosis. She survived breast cancer and a double mastectomy; however, ovarian cancer was diagnosed in August of this year and took this lovely lady home. Oh, what a journey this has been for Leslie. The care and love she received from the doctors and nurses at UW Hospital, a special nurse Kaylin at F6, and the doctors, nurses and chaplain at Agrace Hospicecare, especially Dr. Kinsley, Linda, Kayla, Shelly, Laura, Becky, Nicole, Hayley, and Cheryl and so many others has been a blessing. The nurses and CNA’s truly loved working with Leslie and loved having her as a patient. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Alliance for the Mentally Ill, or Agrace Hospicecare. A memorial service will be held at HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3702 Co. Rd. AB, McFarland, at 3 p.m. on Monday, November 11, 2013, with the Rev. Chris Lee-Thompson presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of service on Monday. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. “To Thine Own Self Be True” William Shakespeare.