Edna Grace Leonard

Today it is a great honor for me to stand before you and be able to say a few words about Nanny. When Dad first asked me to speak I’ll admit I felt a little overwhelmed. Where do you even begin to talk about a woman that has been part of your life for 40 years? I found my inspiration in remembering a really wonderful day that she and I spent.

Two summers ago, Nanny and I spent an afternoon together driving out to Peggy’s Cove to see the see the waves and have some lunch. By this time afternoons out were a treat, as it meant she wasn’t too tired and was feeling pretty good. On the drive out, we had a chance to have a nice long talk. I asked her tell me more about her life when she was younger.

She told me about being a teenager, and living on Joseph Street. She told me every detail she could remember about the day that her 2 brothers Brahmwell and Edward were murdered up by the train tracks and how her life changed afterwards. She told me all about how the man who murdered them was the last man to ever be hung in Halifax and how the story had been published. She told me how her mother was never the same afterwards. Then she told me about being married to an easy-going, loving man and having 3 wonderful children. She told me about when she decided that she wanted to go out and get a job. How she told my grandfather it was just until a few bills were paid off, when really she planned on keeping it all along. How she and my grandfather would get fish and chips from Willman’s or Camille’s every Friday night of pay week.

Of all the time I spent with Nanny, this will always be one of my favourite days with her. I learned so much about her life that I hadn’t known and appreciated even more the things I already knew about her. She was a strong, independent woman and I admired her.

As I sat and thought this week about what I wanted to say about her today, it came to me that she has taught her family some valuable lessons through the way she lived her life.

Today I’m going to tell you 3 things that Nanny taught us:

1. Be an Independent Person– It is no secret that Nanny was fiercely independent. If she wanted to do something, she did it. With or without you. In her later years this would drive the whole family crazy as we thought that she was putting herself at a risk. Like not using her walker in the house. Or putting up a huge stink about getting lifeline. Or insisting on wearing those big, wedge slip-on slippers (until Debbie cut all the straps so that she couldn’t wear them!). And she was pretty ticked off when she realized she couldn’t drive anymore and had to sell her car. But in her younger years, this independence served her well. After her kids were in school, she decided she couldn’t stand staying home all day, so she wanted to get a part-time job. My grandfather didn’t want her to, but she persuaded him to agree and with his blessing, she went out at got one. Thank goodness she did this, as my grandfather died when she was only 53 years old. She was left with a 17-year old daughter to raise on her own but had a secure job at the Dockyard that she loved. She loved it so much that she waited as long as she could to retire. I admire the independence my grandmother had. The ability to take care of herself as much as she could. She was definitely ahead of the women of her time, especially in her younger years. She taught us that if you want something in life, you need to do it for yourself.

2. Get Out and Do Things, Enjoy Life!– Nanny was never one to want to sit at home. She loved going out shopping and enjoying whatever festivities happened to be going on in Halifax such as parades, fireworks, concerts, church events and festivals. When we were younger, my cousins and I used to go with her. When she had nobody to go with her, she would go by herself and have a great time. She did not want to be at home if something was going on in the city. Especially on a Holiday. She also loved day trips to the Valley, strawberry picking, and Sunday afternoon drives. She would pack the best lunches- egg salad sandwiches, chips, peanuts, & peanut butter cookies. Sometimes we’d only be in the car for 30 minutes before we’d be digging into the food. Everyone looked forward to Nanny’s packed lunches.

As much as Nanny loved to get out and do things, she also liked sleeping in her own bed. Once in awhile, however, she would plan a trip away. Every person in our family has favourite memories of our trips away with Nanny. Usually it was a few nights away in PEI, to catch an Anne of Green Gables show, go to a lobster dinner, have lunch at Catherine MacKinnon’s and do a little shopping. In 1986, she and I went out to Vancouver for Expo 86 and to visit my cousin Billie. Many years back, she travelled to Bermuda with her sister Gwen. One summer we all piled into her big green car and drove out to Ontario for Uncle Fred’s 90th birthday party.

That being said, Nanny did prefer her day trips and outings. Even as she got older and was less mobile, she still loved to go out and enjoy herself. She always looked forward to her monthly luncheons with ladies from the church, her hair appointments with Beth, her trips with Dad to Peggy’s Cove and her pedicures with Debbie, Katie and Krista. Nanny was someone who was always up for going out, who really enjoyed life and taught her family that life was meant to be enjoyed.

3. Be Proud- Nanny was always proud of who she was and what she did. She was proud of her children. She was proud of her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She would easily grab our hand and take us across the church or a crowded restaurant, just so that she could introduce us to one of her friends and show us off (which is why we always had to wear something really nice when she took us to church: skirts or dresses for the girls, a nice button up shirt and pants for the boys! There was no way she was taking us out with jeans on!) She was proud to be from Newfoundland. She was proud of her garden. She was proud of her career at the Dockyard. She was proud of playing the piano. She was proud of her faith in God. She was proud that she still lived in her own house at the age of 96 and proud that she did her own taxes this year. She was proud of who she was. She never stopped being proud, even when she got older and wasn’t as well. All you had to do was take her to a doctor’s appointment to realize that. There was absolutely no way she was going without her hair done, her lipstick on and a nice outfit. I loved that about her. She was the only grandmother I knew who could totally rock a red leather jacket.

I could stand up here all morning and talk about a lot of things that remind us of Nanny:

• Her whipped shortbreads at Christmas

• Her delicious homemade strawberry jam

• How she loved to deck out her house with decorations no matter what holiday it was

• How she loved birthday celebrations

• How she liked to drive fast

• How she loved to bake special Valentine cakes every year

• How she loved to have the whole family together on special occasions

• How she loved to dress up

But that is just the tip of the iceberg. She was a loving mother and grandmother, the matriarch of our family. We will miss her terribly. We were so blessed that she lived a long, rich, and fulfilling life. That she lived to see her great-grandchildren. That she taught us such meaningful lessons through the life that she lived. What more could she or we have asked for?

So today I am thankful that we can come together to celebrate Nanny and to reflect on the richness she has brought to our lives. I hope she is up in heaven, looking down and proud of how we are celebrating her life today. Being the independent woman she was, she had everything for today written down, her outfit chosen and her jewellery picked out. She knew exactly what she wanted. I hope we did her proud on this special day.

Nanny, we love you. We’ll miss you. Rest in peace.

And Ps- Nanny, you’ll be happy to know we got the biggest bunch of yellow roses we could find in the whole city of Halifax. Just for you, just for today, just like you wanted.

Adoringly,

Your Granddaughter Erika

xoxo

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Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Edna loved hymns and music. She would bang away at her piano singing her favourite hymns. Her most favourite hymn of all was Precious Lord, Take My Hand. To understand why, I will give you a brief history of this hymn.

Thomas Dorsey was a talented jazz musician who became a devoted Christian. In his early 20’s he became a minister . He abandoned his jazz music and instead wrote hymns . These hymns did not become well known. One day ,while leading a church service, he received a telegram that said his wife died in childbirth. The next day his child died. Dorsey became angry with God and asked Him what was the purpose of this pain and suffering. Dorsey went into the depths of despair, doubting God’s goodness and determined never to write another hymn.

A week later, while still deep in grief, he was at a friend’s house. Alone in the living room ,a sense of peace overwhelmed him and he felt the urge to play the piano. The melody and lyrics to Precious Lord, Take My Hand spilled out. God gave him a song that lifted him from despair. God gave him comfort. God gave him peace. God gave him hope. This inspired him to write many hymns, some of which became very famous. God had given him a purpose. These hymns touched the lives of many who grieved and suffered.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand touched Edna’s life. It gave her peace, comfort, and hope in her trials and suffering.

May the words to this hymn do the same for you.

Heather Leonard

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Leonard (Heffernan) Edna G., Halifax, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2015 at the age of 96. Born in Port Blandford, NL. the daughter of the late Edward and Janet (Chinn) Heffernan.

Edna was employed as a Personnel Services Supervisor at CFB Halifax (Dockyard) retiring in 1991. Edna was a loving and devoted mother to her three children and a super “Nanny” to her grandchildren. She touched them with her kindness and true sense of caring. Edna’s life was a reflection of her love of Christian values and commitment to her family and friends, expressed in her generosity, kindness and devotion. Edna loved flowers and took pride in her small (unprofessional) garden. She also found great joy and contentment in her music and playing the piano. Always mindful that “music is good for the soul”.

She is survived by two daughters Judith (Judy) Cyples; Debra (Debbie) Taylor (Patrick), one son, Richard Leonard (Heather); grandchildren: Billie and Gary Cyples, Keri (Erik Jensen), Krista, twins Kyle and Katie Taylor, Erika (Christian Sykora), Andrew Leonard; great grandchildren: Jillian, Ava, Sofia, Ella, Jakob, Zoey; great great grandchildren: Nathan, Natalie, Landon, Lucas.

Also survived by her sister Gwen, Toronto, ON, Shirley, North Vancouver, BC, and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Harold J. (Dick) Leonard, sister, Marjorie, brothers-in-law, Joe, George, Fred and Garfield, brothers, Bramwell and Edward Heffernan, who met death tragically in 1933, son-in-law Bill and nephew, Randy

Body resting at J. A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 24, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm.

The Funeral service will be held at West End Baptist Church, 1986 Preston Street, Halifax, on Thursday, June 25th at 11am, with reception to follow.

Burial following Reception at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Lower Sackville. Donations can be made to Salvation Army, Barrington Street or West End Baptist Church.

Special thanks to our friends and family for their support during this difficult time. To Bev Douglas, Unit manager of 9 Abbie Lane and her outstanding nursing staff for the kindness shown to our Mother. Also thank you to medical staff of Geriatric Assessment Unit.

“Mom” We’ll miss you – “Till we meet again”.

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