Leona Belle Guise

Born in Thorold, Ontario, Mom graduated from the Mack Training School for Nurses in St. Catharines, Ontario (Class of 1947). She practised nursing at the St. Catharines General Hospital and after moving to Calgary in 1950, at the Calgary General Hospital.

She met the love of her life our Dad, Bob Guise, in July 1949. They were married a year later in Calgary where they later resided and raised their family. They spent 62 blissfully happy years together before Dad’s passing in 2012. Theirs was a true love story. They were inseparable and always each other’s best friend. They always held hands. We feel blessed to have witnessed their great love and affection for each other.

We will remember Mom for her strong social conscience, her love of a spirited political discussion - she was a staunch NDPer, her wry sense of humour and her keen intellect. She had little need for material possessions, preferring the simple things of life: time spent with her husband, children and grandchildren and pets, a good cup of tea, her newspaper and the Blue Jays! She also had a particular fondness for potato chip and Turtles!

Mom was a very proud Canadian. We fondly remember her Confederation Rose Garden of 1967 – a challenge for an Ontario girl who had moved to the prairies!

She was a devoted Mom, loving, supportive and fair but never overbearing. She was always there for us – cooking us fabulous meals, sewing our clothes, knitting us sweaters, editing our book reports, building science projects and helping us with “new math”. She also helped mend a few broken hearts along the way. She welcomed our friends into our home for games, meals and sleepovers and even some “extended stays”.

She was a wonderful cook and even better baker! Her pies were legendary. Two every Sunday (3 if there were guests at the table) for 60 years! She was noted for her skill at slicing said pie (or a brick of ice cream) into 7 equally “fair” slices. In short – she was the perfect mom!

In addition to looking after her family and any number of pets that were underfoot (she was never one to turn away a stray) Mom was for many years a member of the Parkdale United Church Women (UCW). Here, she volunteered countless hours- most notably helping prepare, steam and wrap hundreds of puddings for the yearly Christmas tea and fundraiser. She also gave her time to our local schools helping serve lunches, canvassed for a number of local and national charities and worked during local elections.

Mom was blessed to have a lifelong group of friends through their “Sewing Club” – a name given to an excuse for weekly gatherings for tea, sandwiches, treats and chatter. The group met for almost 40 years – supporting each other through life’s ups and downs.

During her short time at the Brentwood Care Centre Mom endeared herself to the staff with her unfailing good manners and gentle nature. The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to her caregivers for their outstanding kindness and compassionate care. We would also like to extend thanks to her special companions from All About Seniors for their wonderful friendship and support in recent years.

Mom will be lovingly remembered and forever missed by her five children David (Mary), Don (Virginia), Barbara (Dale Johns) Doug (Roslyn) and Ken, three grandchildren; Neil (Cassie), Dylan (Kristin) and Alison, and great-grandson Nolan. She is also survived and fondly remembered by her sister Alice. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Bob (Robert Guise) in 2012.

At Mom’s request, a private family service will be held.

Mom lived a long, healthy and contented life.

In her own words “she had a good run”. She was strong, independent, smart and funny and always true to herself.

We will miss her forever.