Emma Clare Stea

With great sorrow, but with gratitude for the gift of her life, the family of Emma Clare Stea (b. September 14, 1986, Halifax) acknowledges her passing on Saturday, June 13 at Hospice Halifax after a courageous journey with acute myeloid leukemia, first diagnosed in August 2025.

Emma is survived by her beloved husband, Leonard Delorey, and their beautiful son Dominic; her parents, Mary and Ralph; her brother Nick; and a large extended family on both sides, including aunts, uncles, nieces, and cousins whose lives were touched by her unconditional love, good humor, and boundless empathy.

Emma was a graduate of J.L. Isley in Halifax and held a B.Sc. and Advanced Diploma in Food Safety from Memorial University in St. John’s, as well as an M.Sc. from Dalhousie University in Halifax. For 16 years, she served as a quality control analyst in the bakery and dairy industry, where her care, attention to detail, and quiet pride in her work were evident throughout her career.

Emma’s most important role was being a mother to Dominic. His arrival three years ago was met with great joy by Emma, Leonard, and two sets of proud grandparents. She mothered him with gentle love, patience, and a generous heart. Those around her watched him grow into the beautiful boy he is today, full of love, curiosity, humour, and his love for gardening and his emerging expertise for Dinosaurs.

He is his mother’s son, and she did everything possible to ensure he would always know how deeply he is loved and how much she wanted him and his Dad to thrive together.

Seeing Dominic happy in his father’s arms, exploring the world, and playing with his toys filled Emma with joy. Every milestone was celebrated with excitement, from the smallest achievements to the biggest discoveries. She treasured the laughter, adventures, and everyday moments they shared, and took immense pride in watching him grow into the remarkable little boy he is today. Being Dominic’s mother was the greatest privilege of her life.

Emma loved all living things, from the smallest bird to the mightiest whale. As a child, she developed a love for birds while sitting on her Grampy’s lap, and she carried that joy throughout her life. In her final days, she was comforted by the song of a cardinal outside her window, never quite seeing him but recognizing his song with a smile. She found deep peace in memories of her rescue dog Opie, whom she had loved back to life, and in videos of animals free and happy. She loved the four seasons and found joy outdoors with her family, whether hiking in the forest, swimming and snorkeling in the sea, or running with Opie in the snow. Emma loved painting and running. She started with 5K races and later progressed to 10Ks, enjoying many races throughout the years alongside her mother.

She wanted to be remembered for how she lived, not what she endured. She often said that a random mutation had reshaped her life and that no blame could be assigned to it. She faced her illness, which also left her paraplegic, with grit, determination, and resilience, meeting each challenge with strength and grace, while working daily on her walking and recovery.

She was deeply grateful for the practical and emotional support of Leonard, her parents, and her extended family. She endured months of intensive chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell transplant without complaint or self-pity, and worked tirelessly to regain her strength, including moments where she was able to walk short distances with assistance, milestones that reflected her determination and meant so much to her and those who supported her.

To spend time with Emma on her journey was to experience an earth angel who fiercely wanted to live, yet never blamed anyone or anything for the devastating hand she was dealt without warning in August 2025.

In her last months, she lived as she always had, celebrating the gifts of the universe, both big and small, whether the song of a bird, the success of someone else’s career, or the joy of a new addition to a family. She wanted to hear about the good in others’ lives because it helped her feel alive, and she believed that love works best when it is given away. She was also present for others in their own times of illness and difficulty.

Her heart never hardened, and she remained open to giving and receiving love until disease no longer made it possible. She died with the love of her life at her bedside, held in his loving embrace.

The family is grateful for the compassionate, professional, person centered care she received during her final week at Hospice Halifax. Her infectious good humor and compassion extended to those caring for her. They are grateful that her last days were spent in a place where she was seen not only as a leukemia patient, but as a loving mother, wife, and cherished presence.

Emma did not want her death to overshadow anyone’s capacity for joy. She would ask that those who grieve her honor her by moving forward in this world with compassion and wonder. She would want us to love one another.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Halifax. Funeral Service will be held at JA Snow Funeral Home on Thursday June 25th at 2pm with a reception to follow.