Victoria Leach

Victoria ?Lala? Leach, 88, of Bethlehem died Thursday, November 2, 2007 in St. Luke?s Hospital, Fountain Hill surrounded by family. She was born April 8, 1919 in Punta Arenas, Chile to Captain Charles A. Milward, Royal Naval Reserve and Isabella Burns Milward. She was educated in Chile and in England at Charles Towers School.

During World War II, she worked for the British Navy Specialty coding and decoding and British Security Coordination in Valparaiso, Chile. She married Edward P. Leach, a mining engineer working in Chile for Bethlehem Steel. They came to the United States in 1954 where her husband continued his career with Bethlehem Steel and Lala raised 7 children. She proudly became a United States citizen in 1979. Motivated by the love and Spirit of the Lord, Lala served her family, friends and community.

Her awards are numerous:

1962 Church Women United Unsung Volunteer for services rendered to the Spanish-speaking people of the Lehigh Valley

1976 The DeSales medal of outstanding services to DeSales and the Parents Club

1988 YWCA Outstanding Woman of the Year

1995 Honorary Doctor of Humanities, DeSales University

1997 Bethlehem Rotary Community Service Award

1999 Edwin Frey Award, Greater Bethlehem Area Council of Churches

1999 Honorary Chair, 80th Anniversary Gala of Visiting Nurses Association of Eastern PA

2002 Honorary Chair, 80th St. Luke?s Hospital Charity Ball

2007 Gift of the Victoria Leach Primary School in Kajo Keji, Sudan by grateful clergy of the Diocese of Bethlehem

2007 Honored at the St. Luke?s Riverside groundbreaking ceremony by her dear friend Mrs. Priscilla Payne Hurd who named the lobby of the new St. Luke?s Cancer Center for Lala?s daughter Judy Leach

2007 The United States President?s Call to Service Award for service presented by St. Luke?s Hospital

Service to the community:

St. Luke?s Hospital: Lala started her volunteer career here in 1956. Her over 8, 000 hours of service were spread among many activities including Spanish interpreter in the Medical and OBGYN Clinics and Emergency Department. She wrote the first Spanish to English translation manual used in the Hospital.

She proudly served on the Auxiliary Board and was a 12-year trustee on the Hospital Board. She immensely enjoyed and recently completed 20 years of service as Senior Community Representative on the Institutional Review Board.

Lala enjoyed 34 years of involvement with Boutique at the Rink where she is best remembered for her tireless work in jewelry department.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, Lala was a past member of the Partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico and two-term member of the standing committee.

For the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, she was a past two-term Vestry member, served in the Pastoral Care Committee, Lecter, van driver, CURSILLO, usher, Chalicer, Altar Guild and Lay Eucharist minister.

For DeSales University, Lala is past member, secretary and president of the Parents Club and as such helped in many fund raising events.

In addition, Lala served the on the South Terrace Neighborhood Center Board, served The Visiting Nurses Association, the advisory committee for the Center for Coordinated Services, Children?s Bureau and so much more.

Survivors:

Lala will be lovingly remembered by children, Pat and Rick Penske of Bethlehem, Helen & Dennis Davis of Vieques, Tom Leach of Bethlehem, Dan & Debbye Leach of Sulphur Springs, TX, Joe & Alice Leach of Toney, Alabama, Mike & Robin Leach of Clifton, N.J., 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren plus another expected any day named Katherine Victoria in honor of her great grandmother. Her brother in England, Jock Milward will also miss Lala.

Lala was preceded in death by her husband Edward P. Leach, her sister Monica Barnett and her youngest daughter, Judith Anne Leach.

Services: Monday, November 5, 2007 at 10 a.m. at Cathedral Church of the Nativity 321 Wyandotte St. Bethlehem, PA 18015. Visitation will be Sunday, from 6-9 p.m. at Connell Funeral Home, Inc. 245 East Broad St. Bethlehem.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Cathedral Church of the Nativity, DeSales University 2755 Station Ave. Center Valley, PA 18034 or St. Luke?s Hospital

801 Ostrum St. Bethlehem, PA 18015,