Leona Elaine Denisko

Denisko, Leona E. (nee Voroshuck), 88, a quiet and gentle soul, will be remembered by her love of family and her keen interest in antiques. jewelry, and shopping. She passed away Thursday, June 19, 2025.

Leona was born May 3, 1937 in St. Catharines, to the late Samuel and Pearl (Slewka) Voroshuck. She attended St. Mary’s School, and then later, Merritton High School. During her high school years, she also waitressed at Diana Sweets Restaurant in downtown St. Catharines. After finishing high school, she worked at Ferranti-Packard Ltd., where she met her future husband, Mike Denisko. They married in 1959 and shared 52 years together until his passing in 2012.

In her earlier years, Leona did a lot of canning, preserving a variety of fruits and jams, vegetable gardening, taking oil painting classes, pottery painting, and cross-stitch. She also enjoyed card games, such as euchre or cribbage, family gatherings, theatre productions, and summer time camping. Leona liked to keep busy, and held different sales roles. She later became a successful real estate agent with Peter Sukkau Realty until retirement. Yard sales or estate auctions were a regular activity, “to get out of the house”. She enjoyed shopping with family and friends, and would line up for those major sales. Black Friday sales event in Wisconsin became a once-a-year all-nighter. The Canadian National Exhibition (a.k.a. The CNE) was another annual event. She excelled in the kitchen, and made a wonderful variety of pierogies and other homey dishes, yet she was happy to try new restaurants and sample different cuisines. Niagara Folk Arts Festival was always a fun trip around the world. At times, she could be found at the casinos, and joined the occasional casino bus tour trip. Winter times, she was content to watch her CNN, cooking shows, scenic drives around Niagara-on-the-Lake or Niagara Falls, or cheer a Leafs game with her son Michael.

Throughout her life, she held a strong faith in God. Leona is survived by her two children, Susan (Lorenzo) Pisan and Michael J; grandchildren, Liam, Savina, and Aiden; nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews too. She is predeceased by her parents, husband Mike, infant son Michael Anthony, sisters Mary (John) Golchuk and Anne (John) Thomson, brothers Tony (Vera), John (Elaine), Pete (Annie) and Nick (Carol).