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- Windsor Star (ON) -- Friday 18 Dec 2009
O'REILLY, Leona Marie (nee Arbour) Died peacefully at the age of 95 on 15 December 2009, after a brief stay in Toronto's Houses of Providence.She had moved to the Toronto geriatric care centre afterliving almost 60 years in Windsor, Ontario. Leona,known to many as Lena, is predeceased by her husband Edward (1963), her oldest son Edward (2004), and a granddaughter, Suzanne (1976). She is survived by a large and loving family including her children, Wayne (Gail), Mary Lou, Robert (Virginia) and Anne Sprague (Douglas), and daughter-in-law, Nancy. Leona was born on 11 August 1914, in Waubaushene, Ontario, the youngest of Marie (Therrion) and Alfred Arbour's 11 children. Raised in an idyllic rural community in NorthernOntario, she grew upamong the joys and simplicities of farm life from which she derived many entertaining stories to share in later years. As a teen, Leona thrilled to the robust competition between her two NHL-playing brothers often pittedagainst one another when theirteams played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. At the time of her death, the youngest Arbour was predeceased by all of her siblings, Fred Arbour, Emily Lacroix, Ernest "Ty" Arbour, Jack Arbour, Ida "Ede" Hickey,Edna Davis, Alsime "Al" Handy, Agnes"Gig" Middleton, William Arbour, and Mae Boyleau. Along with her husband, young family, nearby brothers and sisters and many in-laws, Leona spent someof her happiest years in Toronto as a young bride and mother. In 1953, after a relatively shortstint in St. Lambert, Quebec, the O'Reillys embraced Windsor as their new community and became particularly intertwined with life at AssumptionHigh School. In the '50's and early '60's, Leona was appreciated not only as a varsity sports fan but,more importantly, as the launder of team uniforms. Alongwith her husband, who led the school's Dad's Club, sheforged a happy alliance with the Assumption family. In 1963, upon the death of her husband Edward, Leona was left with a young family toraise. With fierce independence and a sense of resolve, trademarks of her long life, she embraced the role of single parent. In particular, Leona never lost sight of her commitment to the education of her three boys and two girls, an achievement from whichshe derived great pride when thejob was done. Self-sacrifice and hard work were the hallmarks of her life and, in many ways, Leona was well ahead of her time in other lifestylechoices. Long before the 100-Mile Diet she fostered her good healthwithlocally grown produce. A child of the Depression, she managed to live exceptionally well within hermeans, admonishing those who spent what they didn't have. And she handled all of this with witty observationsof her family's escapades. During thosemany years as the family matriarch, Leona also personified the role of traditional grandmother. She knit in winter, picked berries in summer, preserved in thefall, and baked all year round, all to ensure that the larder was full for her growing family. She made special occasions just that and never shirked from the day-to-day responsibilities of life. Through this and so much more, she continually exhibited her capacity to get the job done. In fact, a Windsor Star photographer once capturedherin an inspirational pose shovelling her Partington Avenue driveway when she was well into her eighties. She expected no less of herself. Leona's legacy goes on to include 13 grandchildren, Mary, Susan, Patricia, Edward, David, Johanna, Beth, Sean,Reilly, Karen, Maxwell, Luke, and Hannah; nine great-grandchildren, Adeline, Katherine, Rachel, Thomas, David, Samantha, Sadie, Kylla,and Tyler; and three great-great-grandchildren, Hunter, Mikaila, and Bobby. She is predeceased and/or survived bydozens of nieces and nephews and their families, ispredeceased by her godchild Denise Hickey, and is survived by god-daughters Jo-AnMascarin and Judy Vlossak. Memorial donations can be made to Maryvale Adolescent and Family Services, in Windsor, or the Houses of Providence, in Toronto. She will be remembered by family and friends at Families First Funeral Home & Tribute Centre, 3260 Dougall Avenue, Windsor, (519-969-5841) on Friday with visitation 5-9 pm. On Saturday, familyand friendsare invited to meet at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, (350 Huron Church Road), for further visitingafter 9 am followed by a mass of Christian burial at9:30 am. IntermentAssumption Cemetery. Share memories or make a charitable donation online at FamiliesFirst.ca
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1914 - 2009 (95 ans)