Leslie Heilig
Shiloh | Save
Leslie Heilig, nee Garcia, 63, of Shiloh, IL, born July 8, 1962, in Kittery, ME, died Monday, March 30, 2026, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, with family by her side.
Leslie was a retired transportation specialist for the United States Transportation Command at Scott AFB. After retirement, Leslie remained active with St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O’Fallon, IL, Toastmasters International, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Leslie enjoyed time with family and friends, music, movies, TV, and food. She loved to travel, engage in self-improvement, and learning new things. Leslie was an organizer and enjoyed planning projects, daily tasks, possessions, and household information. Her personal quote was “I eat challenge for breakfast”.
Leslie’s relationship with God was key to living her mission and she constantly prayed for His guidance even during the storms of life. Leslie believed He expressed His love for her through the people in her life.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Melisa Garcia Brown and Lisandra Garcia Brink.
Leslie survived by husband of 42 years, Christopher; her parents, Carlos Garcia-Delgado and Efrend, nee Gonzalez, Garcia; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard Brink, Gregory (Christine) Heilig, and Katherine (Eric) Heilig Schlechte; three nieces, Sarah (Ian) Heilig Dahlstrom, Jessica (Jake) Brink Williamson, and Amanda (Taylor) Brink Michel; two nephews, Byron (Gabby) Heilig and Samuel (Nikki) Schlechte; great-nieces and great-nephews, Zoraida Williamson, Jocelyn Williamson, Wesley Michel, and by future great-niece, Nora Michel, expected in May 2026; and Leslie also leaves behind her beloved fur-baby, Teddy Mo.
The family would also like to express their gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff of the Cardiac Unit and the other departments at Barnes-Jewish Hospital for the love and care they gave to Leslie.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Karla Smith Behavioral Health https://karlasmithbehavioralhealth.org/donate, the National Alliance on Mental Illness https://namiillinois.networkforgood.com/projects/89518-support-nami-illinois or the Belleville Area Humane Society https://bahspets.org/donate. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, April 6, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville IL, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O’Fallon, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O’Fallon, IL, with Fr. Nicholas Junker officiating.
Burial will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.
Renner Funeral Home
