Mary Leila Packer

Mary Leila Packer – age 81, of Swartz Creek, Michigan, passed away on November 19, 2025, at McLaren Hospital in Flint after a two-month battle with multiple illnesses. A funeral service will take place at 1:00 PM Wednesday, November 26, at Swartz Creek Community Church, 7400 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek, Michigan. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 PM Tuesday, November 25 at Sharp Funeral Homes Miller Road Chapel (8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek, Michigan) and at the church on Wednesday from 12:00 PM to the time of the service.

Mary is survived by her loving husband of almost 61 years, James of Swartz Creek, sons Matthew (Kristi) of Flushing and Michael (Kim) of New Haven, grandchildren Nathaniel (Margaret) Spires of Montrose, Janelle (Joe) Chapman of Flushing, Ellie (Jared) Bayley of Flint, Abbie Kalahar of Boston, Massachusetts, Matthew Kalahar of Chesaning, Gabrielle Packer and Brady Packer of New Haven and great grandchildren Lennon, Lincoln, Liam, Charlotte, Emmett and Ella, brother John (Chris) Leodler of Leslie, sister Middy (Dave) Church of Lansing, sister-in-law Cheryl Packer of Jackson, loving nieces and nephews, and numerous friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Ethel Leodler, mother and father-in-law, Dale and Evelyn Packer, brother, Bob Leodler, sister and brother-in-law, Nita and Steve Mesko, and brother-in-law, Jon.

In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to Swartz Creek Community Church or Swartz Creek Kiwanis.

On November 3, 1944, a light entered the world in the form of Mary Leila Leodler. On November 19, 2025, she departed to shine in her eternal form. From the first inhale to the final exhale, Mary’s life breathed the qualities of love, loyalty, caring and charity to her faith, family, friends, and community.

Mary was born to John and Ethel Leodler and welcomed by brother, Bob, and sister, Nita. About four years later, they were joined by sister, Middy, and another four years later by brother, Tom, who completed the family. She grew up on a farm in Ovid, attended a country school in her elementary years, and Ovid Public Schools to complete her grade school education, graduating in 1962. It was during seventh grade that she made the acquaintance of Jim Packer. They began dating around ninth grade when she asked him to a Sadie Hawkins dance. They married in 1964 and welcomed sons, Matthew in 1965 and Michael in 1967.

The family spent most of the boys’ childhood at a home on West Bristol Road in Swartz Creek, surrounded by wonderful neighbors with whom many friendships were formed. Mary was an original member of a pinochle club formed by a group of young mothers who got together once a month to play cards and enjoy an evening out. This group met together for over 50 years. In 1992 Jim and Mary moved to a home on Miller Road that once belonged to Jim’s grandfather. They lived there until 2021.

In 1967 Mary and Jim joined the Swartz Creek Methodist Church, now the Swartz Creek Community Church. Through the years she served on several different committees and volunteered at the Swartz Creek Food Pantry. She was a staunch member of the Swartz Creek Kiwanis and served her community as an election volunteer.

Both of her sons found wives that possessed many of her finest qualities. These trickled down to her grandchildren Nathaniel (Margaret), Janelle (Joe), Gabrielle, Brady, Ellie (Jared), Abbie and Matthew and great grandchildren Lennon, Lincoln, Liam, Charlotte, Emmett, and Ella. What a legacy she left!

April Fool’s Day was a year’s long tradition between Mary and Mike. He would come up with some elaborate, yet entirely plausible, ruse to try to trick her. For example, when he served in the Air Force, he told her that he had driven a forklift off a dock. For a number of years these worked until Mary remembered the day on which the story was told. Sometimes Mary called Mike and asked why he hadn’t called. A couple times she even pulled one over on him! Mike’s love of April Fool’s Day jokes became a tradition with his wife and kids.

When Kristi and Matt first started dating, they were having dinner at the Miller Road home. Kristi recalls noticing that Matt and his parents were looking intently at her with a cross between “oh no,” and “I wonder what she will do?” Then a bat that had come down the chimney swooped from its perch on a window blind. Kristi ran screaming through the kitchen into the mud room, followed by the bat. Since Mary was the administrative assistant in the Biology Department at U of M-Flint and one of the professors was a bat expert, she was versed in how to handle the situation. The fact that these two married remains a family mystery!

Mary was a devoted Grandma and Great-grandma and relished the time she was able to spend with each at family get togethers and times with individual “grands” and “greats”. Many memories of love expressed in word and deed will be cherished and her impact on their lives remembered.

Mary may use the terms, sweet, kind, and giving in conjunction with Mary. She also possessed, in the words of a Dean at U of M-Flint for whom she worked, a “spine of steel and gargantuan work ethic”. She was a force of nature embodied in a five foot two, eyes of brilliant blue frame! Mary was on the go, an early riser and busy until she fell asleep on the couch in front of the TV at night. She was religious about walking her ten thousand or more steps, even finishing by walking the perimeter of her basement in the evening if that number wasn’t attained.

Mary set an example of hard work, doing the job well, having and attaining goals, loving fiercely, and expressing gratitude for both the great and small gifts of life. She left us with beautiful memories of love that will continue to guide us. While she is no longer physically present, we know she is always only a thought away. Every time we see a teddy bear, we will think of her passion for them and the many bears that adorned her home. For the gift of her love and presence and how it shaped our lives, we remain eternally grateful.