Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 10/21/2005

James P. Leyes

March 17, 1921 -- Oct. 19, 2005

James Patrick Leyes, 84, of South Bend, Ind., died at home in the care of his family on Wednesday, Oct 19.

Pat was born on March 17, 1921, in South Bend, to Frank and Gertrude (Hoke) Leyes. On Jan. 17, 1944, he married Mary Patricia Donahue in St. Joseph's Church, South Bend, Ind.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert Leyes of Clearwater, Fla.; and by a sister, Frances Holman of Western Springs, Illinois.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Patricia; a son, Joseph of South Bend; daughters, Ginny Toal of South Bend, Barbara Sorensen of Granger, Mary Pat Nussbaum of South Bend and Julie Richter of Los Angeles, Calif.; brothers, Harold Leyes of South Bend and Richard Leyes of Janesville, Wisconsin. Pat is also survived by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Pat was a lifelong resident of South Bend and was a graduate of South Bend Central High School. He worked as a sales representative for Great Lakes Distributing Company of South Bend, Indiana, and Chicago Forest Products in Chicago, Illinois. He served as a volunteer in the Pediatric Unit of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Funeral Mass will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Indiana. Rev. Andre Leveille will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. before the services in the basilica.

Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Association, 2004 Ironwood Circle, South Bend, IN 46635; or to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.