Greensburg — As Thanksgiving draws near, the Greensburg-Decatur County Public Library is featuring one of our "poster geeks" for this week's article and Library display.

Leslie Asche Thackery supported the Library by volunteering to be on one of the "Geek the Library" posters and chose to geek celebrating life. Those who have met Leslie understand that she truly does feel passionate about celebrating her life and the lives of those around her. Leslie is an amateur photographer who loves to take candid portraits of those she loves. She is the mother of 3 children and wife to Nick. When we asked Leslie to tell us why she geeks celebrating life, she replied:

"Since 2003, I have been a Funeral Director and Embalmer at Gilliland-Howe Funeral Home. Celebrating life is a true reality of what I do every day. When someone passes, I am able to learn so much about that person's life, the accomplishments that they made, and the people that they have touched. Some I may have known my whole life and others I feel like I have known my whole life, after learning about them through their families. For me, accepting that death is inevitable makes celebrating a life much easier. No matter what the age, the best way that I know how to show someone how important they were to us in life, is by celebrating their life."

Leslie serves on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Community Action Coalition and volunteers for different community projects and parades. She says, "I enjoy being a part of all the great things that our community offers, even if it is only as a volunteer. You may see one of my kids tagging along with me, I love sharing those moments with them."

Another of Leslie's favorite endeavors is the the Gilliland-Howe Children's Health and Safety Fair which she coordinates. According to Leslie, "this event brings together several community resources that are available in Greensburg. Like most parents, I am really busy,  but want to offer my children opportunities. This Fair gives every parent all the information that they need for their children, not to mention they have a blast with all the safety education, demonstrations, health screening, entertainment, games, food, and free stuff. What I love most about this Fair is that it is not just one business that offers different programs it is an entire community of businesses, churches, and organizations that comes together to show what they have to offer your family. This Fair is perfect for the busy family."

Leslie also coordinates the Decatur County Reality Store. She describes this event as "a program offered for the 8th grade students from Greensburg, North Decatur, and South Decatur to facilitate career awareness, increase student engagement through real-world connections and provide a critical link between education and the world of work."  "I love working with these students because someday really soon they are going to be valuable members of our work force. I am proud to be a part of a project that is molding the 8th graders of Decatur County into the next leaders of our community." Clearly, Leslie geeks her community, her life and her involvement in these projects.

The Library will be celebrating life next week by featuring photos of people in our community celebrating life in various ways. There will also be a display of books and other materials for you to browse. Stop in and check out these possibilities:

Celebrate: Healthy Entertaining for Any Occasion

Miracles: A Celebration of New Life by Anne Geddes and Celine Dion

Let's Make a Memory: Great Ideas for Building Family Traditions and Togetherness by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson

Love Your Life: O's Handbook for Your Best Today and Tomorrow by the Editors at O, The Oprah Magazine

10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn

The Good Among the Great: 19 Traits of the Most Admirable, Creative and Joyous People by Donald Van de Mark

A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark

What Should I do With My Life: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question by Po Bronson

Making Kind Choices by Ingrid Newkirk

Scott Brown: Against All Odds  by Scott Brown

Let's Roll by Lisa Beamer

Making Memories with Fabric, Photos, and Family Keepsakes by Margaret Sindelar

Quiet Strength: The Principals, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy

Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman

Labor of Love: A Midwife's Memoir by Cara Muhlhahn

The Greensburg-Decatur County Public Library GEEKS celebrating life and our community. We give thanks for all of the wonderful people who live here!