Leila Lavinia Reva was born March 2, 1904, in Thamesville, Ontario, the daughter of Joseph L. and Martha (Brown) Reva. She had two siblings: Joseph, born around 1905, and Elvida Alice, born in 1902. As teenagers and young working adults, the three Reva children crossed the border back and forth in the Windsor, Canada/Detroit Michigan area. Their parents, Joseph and Martha, were divorced in 1918, with their mother filing due to "extreme cruelty and non-support."
At the age of 17, Leila married Raymond Albert Bondy (born June of 1903, the son of Albert and Elizabeth (Botsford) Bondy). The marriage took place on October 28, 1921, in Windsor, Ontario. Both the bride and groom were Roman Catholic, and following the marriage they made their home at 1007 Louis Avenue in Windsor. Raymond gave his occupation as a "packer."
By 1930 Leila was again single, using her maiden name of "Reva," and was living on West Superior Street in Alma, Michigan. She worked as a "beauty operator", and had applied for U.S. citizenship.
On November 3, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, Leila married Timothy Gavin, the son of Patrick and Winifred (Long) Gavin. Timothy worked as a salesman, and Leila again listed her occupation as "beauty operator." This was the first marriage for Timothy, and the second for Leila, who stated that she was divorced.
This marriage too was short-lived. The couple were divorced on May 18, 1936, less than two years later. Leila was granted the divorce in Wayne County, Michigan, based on "severe acts of exteme cruelty." The couple had no children during their brief marriage.
In 1940 Leila was still living in Detroit and working as a "beautician."
Leila Reva died at the age of 88 on August 23, 1992, at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. She was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; 1930 and 1940 U.S. Federal Censuses; Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934; Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952; Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952; Detroit Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905-1963; U.S. Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1956.