Thomas Leonard

LEONARD, Thomas- 1940-2023. Surrounded by his three children, Tom passed away peacefully on Thursday August 31, 2023 at the age of 83. Tom was born on August 23, 1940 in Lennoxtown, Scotland to Thomas and Annie Leonard.  As children, he and his siblings roamed the beautiful Campsie Hills. At the age of 12, he emigrated to Canada and settled in Niagara Falls along with many of his family members. Tom is survived by his loving sister Patricia Parks and brothers John and Dennis Leonard and by a large clan of many cherished nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings Elizabeth Convery, Helen McQueen, Margaret Payne, Catharine Graham, Nan Craven, Mary Marno, Charles Leonard and Eric Leonard. Tom was very close to his three children and their spouses: Patricia Leonard (Lindsay Webb), Tom Leonard (Belle Leonard) and Christine Leonard (Paul Pooler).  He was a proud and much loved Grandpa to his 12 grandchildren: Rachele Webb (Ryan Herr), Madeline Webb (Brett Rideout), Daniel Webb, Ava Leonard (Blake Thompson), Chloe Leonard (Masaki Kagawa), Sasha Leonard, Declan Leonard (Talia Boettinger), Liam Leonard, Kate Leonard, Benjamin Pullia (Katherine Pullia), Simon Pullia (Sarah Dair) and Claire Pooler. His heart was full of love for his two great-grandchildren Teo Thompson and Jane Pullia.  Tom remained good friends with his ex-wife Jacquie Baker-Lonergan and her husband Bob Lonergan. Tom never missed a family event or an opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren. They will remember his attendance at many tea parties, soccer, hockey and baseball games. And he may have taught a few of them to play poker! He was always keen to hear about their lives and interests. He valued the good conversations and sharing of ideas. He felt incredibly fortunate to have a special relationship with each one of them. We all loved hearing his stories about growing up in Scotland, his adventurous trip to British Columbia with his buddies in his late teens (hitchhiking, riding rail cars, and building a railway tunnel…) and all the different old cars well past their prime that he kept on the road to get to and from work. He was a resourceful, handy guy that we nicknamed ‘MacGyver’ for his ingenuity and creative problem solving ability, a trait gratefully inherited by all three of his children. He was an independent, free spirit who was known to jump in his car and head to Florida at a moment's notice to get away from the winter blahs. He encouraged us all to enjoy and live life to the fullest. In the words of Robbie Burns, ‘Life is but a day at most’. Tom truly appreciated the kindness shown to him by the many health care workers that he met over the past few years. Cremation has taken place. Friends are invited to Patterson Funeral Home on Tuesday September 5th, with visitation from 6 to 8 pm. A Funeral Service to celebrate his life will take place Wednesday September 6th at 11am. Memorial contributions may be made to Heart Niagara, and would be appreciated by his family. Online condolences at pattersonfuneralhome.com.