Leila Marie Ward, 59, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at UIHC.  Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW in Cedar Rapids. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery.  Friends may visit with the family from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, January 14, 2019 at the chapel.

Leila was born August 22, 1959 in Iowa City. She graduated from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. Leila was a math enthusiast. She received her BS degree from Coe College with an emphasis in math. She worked at Rockwell Collins for 22 years. She then became a licensed realtor in Cedar Rapids and briefly worked for Kopel Realty. She also received her paralegal license. Most recently Leila worked as a supervisor at Amana Refrigeration.

Leila is survived by her daughter Mackenzie Marie Ward; bonus daughters Machaley and Mariah Ward; grandchildren Jesiah and Aniyah Collins; brother Bobby (Linda) Levy; sisters Carole Bernard-Freeman (Rawland), Anita (Maurice) Derrick of Cedar Rapids and Valorie McCall of Shakopee, Minnesota; "Special Dad" Marvell Cook; aunt Delores Becicka; nieces, nephews, and close friends Kim Jones, Melissa Carr Miller and Rehana Baluch.

She was preceded in death by her mother Viola Louise Levy.

Leila was a strong willed, independent, kind, loving person and very thoughtful of others. Her laugh was infectious. She will be greatly missed by her daughter, siblings, other family members, and friends.

Memorials may be directed to Mackenzie Ward.

The family wishes to extend a special "Thank You" to the doctors and nursing staff at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids and the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City for all their attention and care given to Leila. We greatly appreciate and thank you all.