Maria A. Leal

Maria A. Leal, age 87, of Portage, Indiana, passed away unexpectedly on September 17, 2024. She was born in Laredo, Texas and then moved to East Chicago, Indiana, where she met and married the love of her life, Miguel Leal, in 1956. They later moved to Gary, Indiana where they raised their nine children. For approximately ten years, Maria and Miguel lived their retiring years in Portage, Indiana.

Maria (Ma) was a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, special friend to many and a true woman of God, praying daily for everyone. She had a love for gardening and cooking. You could tell by her collection of cookbooks and cookware through the years. Daytime soaps and Spanish Novelas were also a favorite past-time. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Miguel Leal; father, Pablo Alvarez; and son, Rene Leal.

Maria leaves to cherish a lifetime of memories to her children: Margie (Jay) Jimenez, Michael (Christine) Leal, Josie (Greg) Garcia, Richard Leal, Edward (Gina) Leal, Raul (Sylvia) Leal, Robert (Michelle) Leal, and Sandy Mendez; twenty-one grandchildren; over thirty great-grandchildren; other relatives and special friends.

Visitation will be Friday, September 20, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. with Funeral Services 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. from Ridgelawn Funeral Home 4201 West Ridge Road Gary, Indiana 46408. Interment Ridgelawn Cemetery 4401 West Ridge Road Gary, Indiana. 46408

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