Barbara Jean Leslie of South Lyon, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, May 26, at Angela Hospice Care Center in Livonia.

Born in 1940 in Helena, Montana, and raised on a Crow Indian Reservation, Barbara Jean thrived in early childhood.

Her mother, Mary Lou Foltz, was one of 11 children to Lena (Stoddard) Foltz and Charles "Carl" Foltz, who used his knowledge of farming from his University of Minnesota Agricultural School Degree, to develop a 120-acre ranch they purchased in Wyola, Montana.

This special place, which Barbara wrote, "would be permanently a part of me" is no doubt where she developed her great horticultural interests, especially her love for lilac bushes, just like her Grandma Foltz.

It is also where she lived an idyllic life in her formative years, surrounded by many young aunts, uncles, cousins, and loving, faith-filled grandparents. She loved her horse, Myrtle, who she referred to as "her babysitter", a horse who gently carried the young Barbara Jean all around the ranch, watching the daily farming work.

World War II called her mother, Mary Lou, to New Mexico where she worked as a US Army Secretary, and met her future husband and Barbara's future adoptive father, Paul J. Bognar. He was a member of the 1942 Albuquerque Army Air Base Flying Kelly's Football Club, which was his official commission. He played football for the Army to boost morale and to help sell war bonds. And while he pretended to be a bit gruff, he was really, a most gentle and loving soul.

It was December of 1945, after the war ended that Mary Lou remarried, and the young family of 3 embarked on a journey to their final homestead, Paul Bognar's home town of Cleveland, Ohio, and surrounding areas. Taking the train across the country at the age of 5 years old, Barbara, seeing the train cars full of sailors and soldiers returning home from war, remembers singing to them "Bell Bottom Trousers".

Young Barbara Jean was amazed at life in the bustling city of Cleveland. Her new extended Bognar Family spoke mostly Hungarian, but always showed her love and had plenty of sweet treats from their bakery. Soon her parents welcomed Paul Charles, her new baby brother, 7 years her junior, and the family moved to the small picturesque town of Ravenna, Ohio, outside Akron.

Barbara was a lifelong, avid reader, and an exceptional student. At Ravenna High School, she was part of National Honor Society and French Club, Class Vice President, Homecoming Queen, among others and was honored to speak to graduates at her 1958 Graduation Commencement.  She then attended St John's Hospital School of Nursing in Cleveland, where once again she excelled.

No doubt, due to her steadfast, unparalleled work ethic and dedication to excellence, Class President Barbara Bognar was named 1961 Student Nurse of the Year, chosen above many candidates from 10 other Ohio Nursing Schools.

Cleveland is where Barbara first met Edward Leslie, through mutual friends. He was from Boston and had a funny way of speaking, but in letters of correspondence, they soon learned that they shared a deep Catholic faith and hopes for having a large, beautiful family.

Upon graduating with her RN, Barbara moved to Boston to work in a Boston psychiatric hospital, and live with her future in-laws, the Leslie family.  At that time, her fiancé Edward, graduate of Boston College (BA) and Boston University (MCAS), was drafted into the Navy, and was sent to Washington DC to work at the Pentagon.

In September of 1962, Barbara and Ed were married at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ravenna, Ohio.

As Ed began his 42 year career at Ford Motor Company, Barbara selflessly began her life as a full-time mother of seven children. They crisscrossed the country due to job transfers, with stops in New Jersey, Ohio, Missouri, then ultimately settling in the Detroit area in the late '60s, in Farmington Hills for 44 years (then later in South Lyon, next door to her beloved daughter, Beth)

Never one to slow down, once the children were in school in the mid-1980's, Barbara and her friend, Judy Spicer began a wallpaper and painting home decor business, and developed a deep, life-long friendship.

Barbara also attended years-worth of her children's swim meets, football and lacrosse games, musical concerts, and art shows. Barbara lovingly made every meal from scratch, and often had delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies in the oven when her children arrived home from school, ready to listen to concerns of the day and offer words of encouragement.

In the mid-1990's Barbara returned to her studies, this time at Madonna University, focused on Hospice Care.

As someone who put her devout Catholic faith into action, Barbara was also very active in several organizations, including the Catholic Lifeline Reading Group begun by Father John Hardon, the Heart to Heart Speakers Series with another lifelong friend, Maria Hoeflein at Domino's Farms in Ann Arbor, and volunteered for years at Call to Holiness Conferences, in Sterling Heights. Barbara and Edward also took religious pilgrimages to Medjugorje and Rome.

As Barbara writes in her own collection of family history,  "How many stories of courage, faith, sacrifice, dedication and love have not been recorded? Or, have they been recorded in the hearts and minds of those that follow generation after generation?"

Barbara and Ed raised a family of 7 children, 18 grandchildren and now have 3 great-grandchildren. All of whom witnessed Barbara's unwavering dedication to our Blessed Mother Mary and her son Jesus, every day of her life, as she carried out her duties, with infinite love.

Barbara is survived by her children…Paul Leslie (Xavier and Max), Beth Markey and her husband John (Elizabeth, Thomas (wife Andrea, son John Christopher), Matthew (wife Sophie, sons Conor and Liam), Mary (husband John), Michaela, Isabella, Anna, and Margaret), Christopher Leslie and his former wife Susan (Emma, Maddy, and Greta), Katherine Cerne and her husband John (Blaise and Kennedy), Matthew Leslie and his wife Mary (Seraphia), Lynn O'Donohue and her husband Michael (Joseph and Grace), and James Leslie.

As well as Barbara's brother, Paul Charles Bognar and his wife Donna Jean and their children Michael Bognar and his wife Jayne (Kyle), Michelle Snider and her husband Joel (Alex, Jacob, Josef)

Preceded in death by her loving husband, Edward Leslie (in 2021), her sisters-in-law Mary and Phyllis Leslie, Father and Mother-in-law, Edward and Elizabeth Leslie. As well as her own parents, to whom she always expressed her deep devotion, Mary Lou and Paul J. Bognar.

The Leslie family will receive guests at the funeral home Thursday, June 4, 2026, 2-8 pm, with a 7pm rosary.

Barbara's Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, June 5, 2026, 10:30 am (in-state 10:00 am), Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23615 Power Rd., Farmington.

Immediately following Mass, a funeral procession will take Barbara to her final place of rest next to her husband, Ed, at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.

Memorial tributes can be made for the beautiful souls at Angela Hospice .  Please use the link to make a donation in honor of Barbara.