Elizabeth Bickham

Elizabeth Ann Bickham, 79, of Hudson, Indiana, formerly of Payne, Ohio passed away peacefully at home on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Elizabeth was born in Paulding, Ohio on October 23, 1944, a daughter of the late L. Evelyn (Enz) and C. Charles Bickham.

Elizabeth attended the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana where she graduated with her Masters’s degree in education. She was a dedicated special education teacher at Branch Intermediate in Coldwater, Michigan. She enjoyed snow skiing and was a member of the Fort Wayne Ski Club in her youth. It was her involvement in the club that led her to meet the late William (Bill) Leider. Through this relationship, Elizabeth came to be a devoted Catholic and member of St. Anthony’s church of Angola, IN. She enjoyed cooking and baking and was known to follow recipes to a “T”. She made an amazing German Chocolate Cake each year for her son’s birthday, which will be dearly missed. Elizabeth was a creature of habit, very rooted in tradition, and very faithful to her community. She was known well to be kind hearted and loyal to the people she did business with.

Elizabeth will always be remembered for her faith and love of her son and her community. In her most recent years, she was a loving grandmother to her four grandchildren. She moved from her family homestead in Payne to be with her son and his family. She was very proud of her family and routinely proclaimed how “blessed she was” to be with them on a daily basis.

Elizabeth will be sadly missed by her son, Matthew (Becca) Leider and her grandchildren Amaya and Xander Prater, Lincoln and Maxton Leider. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Mary Jo Welch, and lifelong companion William (Bill) Leider.

Viewing is Wednesday, May 15th, 5 - 7 PM at Dooley Funeral Home, 5761 SR 500, Payne, Ohio.

Viewing is also Thursday, May 16th, 10 - 10:30 AM at the funeral home.

Her funeral mass is Thursday, May 16th at 11 AM at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 203 W. Townline Street, Payne. There will also be a lunch following mass.

Please join the family to celebrate the life of Elizabeth and share your fond memories.

She will be laid to rest in Maumee Cemetery, Antwerp, Ohio.

Memorials are to Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 417 N. Main Street, Paulding, Ohio 45879.

Fond memories may be shared at dooleyfuneralhome.com

FLOWERS AND OTHER TRIBUTES MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE PAYNE FUNERAL HOME ON WEDNESDAY, 9 AM TO 3 PM.