Maria "Mely" M. (Medrano) DeLeon

Maria Melida "Mely" DeLeon, age 78 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance, Ohio.   
  
She was born on December 18, 1944 to the late Clemencia (Mora) and Maximino Medrano Sr. in Weslaco, Texas. On November 26, 1963 she married Arturo DeLeon Sr., who preceded her in death on July 8, 2017. 
  
Mely was a faithful member of St. John's Catholic Church and The Latin American Club where she held several offices. She worked for several years at Campbell's Soup Company in Napoleon, Ohio. She enjoyed traveling and dancing. Mely was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and treasured her time spent with her family. 
  
Mely will be sadly missed by her loving children, Irene Yvette (Rick) Colson of Vandalia, MO, Arturo DeLeon Jr. and Leon DeLeon, both of Columbus, OH, and Maximino (Jessica Gebhart) DeLeon of Defiance. She also leaves behind four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, her brothers, Guadalupe Medrano of Chicago Heights, IL and Maximino Medrano Jr. of San Antonio, TX, and her sister, Sabina Ventura of Chicago, IL. 
  
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Maxine DeLeon, her sister Irene DeLeon, and brother, Gabino Medrano.
  
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 from 2:00 to 8:00 pm at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at St. John's Catholic Church, with Fr. Dave Cirata officiating. Burial will follow the service at Riverside Cemetery.
  
Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.