She was predeceased by her parents, Anna (nee Bérard) and Delphis, brothers Greg (and sister-in-law Emily), and Rene, and sisters Irene, Gloria and Lenora (Lennie) (and brother-in-law Emil), as well as her husband Bill. She is survived by her daughter Melodee and many nieces and nephews.
Leona was born on February 8, 1932 in Winnipeg, MB during the great depression, or, "The Dirty 30s", as she called them. She was the fifth of six children. Her family struggled financially, yet she often recalled memories of growing up in a happy home full of laughter and music.
Leona got her first job at 14 as an elevator operator at Eaton's and enjoyed her time there. She attended Norberry High School, and graduated in 1950.
Leona loved dancing from a young age. In her pre-teen and early teenage years, she honed her skills in various dance disciplines, and in her late teens, she became an instructor at The Arthur Murray School of Dance in Winnipeg.
In her early twenties Leona moved to Montreal. After about a year there, she signed up for a work exchange program, and moved to New York City. When she first arrived in New York she didn't have much money, but she also didn't want to miss her chance to see some of the great jazz artists of the time. Sometimes that meant choosing between eating dinner or buying a ticket to see the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, or Ella Fitzgerald. Dinners were missed often in those days! Things got better for her when she landed a job at the Great West Life Insurance Company, and she rented an apartment in a classic brownstone.
After a few years in New York, Leona moved back to Winnipeg. Not long after that, she met a Dutchman by the name of Bill Vandermeer at a dance. They were married on May 20, 1961. Together, they enjoyed travelling and camping, and went on many road trips all over North America.
After several years together, Leona and Bill learned that it was unlikely that they would be able to have children. Though disheartened by this news, Leona was never one to feel sorry for herself. Having an altruistic nature, she decided to pursue a career in social work. She attended Red River College, and excelled in her studies. She graduated in May 1970. As a social worker, Leona worked mostly with the native community in Manitoba. Being of Métis background herself, she felt a deep connection with her clients and always went the extra mile to help make their lives better.
At the age of 41, to her complete surprise, Leona found out that she was pregnant, and she and Bill welcomed a baby girl in February 1974. Leona cherished every moment of being a mother. As her daughter Melodee grew, mother and toddler spent a lot of time outside on their hobby farm. They especially enjoyed watching the newborn baby animals in the springtime.
Leona loved animals, and the family had various pets throughout the years. She had a special appreciation for cats and found humour in their antics.
In 1977, the family moved to Kelowna, BC, where Leona devoted her time to being a homemaker.
Leona enjoyed baking and gardening with Bill, and crossword puzzles. She was well read and took an interest in politics, finance, and social issues. She also had a talent for knitting, and made many pairs of socks and mittens, and toques, scarves and sweaters for Bill and Melodee.
Throughout her life, Leona’s strong Catholic faith got her through the hard times. After Bill passed away in 2007, she started a new chapter on her own. She moved to a plus 55 complex and made many new friends there. After several years there, she was diagnosed with dementia, and moved on to assisted living, and then to long term care.
Her family would like to thank the staff at the Adult Day Program at May Bennett Centre, Harmony Living for Seniors, and Sunpointe Village for all of their hard work and support.
A memorial service will be held for Leona on May 8, 2024 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 750 Rutland Road N, in Kelowna, BC.
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