CROSBY, Leila Kathleen
CROSBY, Leila Kathleen
Peacefully in Ottawa on January 3, surrounded by her four children, in her 98th year. Predeceased by husband Ron Crosby (2015), beloved mother of Louise (Evan), Doritt (Dan), Duncan (Laurie), and Scott (Cheri). Grandmother to David (Jenn), Stephanie (Matt), Dylan (Ruby), Tess (Gianluca), Zachary, Patrick (Mackenzie), Oliver (Jana), and Sam. Great-grandmother to Arya, Gavin, Fenwick, Kinlee, Lily, Nora, Kaia, Asher, Aila, Espen and Louis. Sister to Iona MacDonald. Leila was born on February 22, 1926, in Aylesford, Nova Scotia. Raised on an apple farm during the Depression, she was smart, curious and hard-working, graduating from Acadia University with an arts degree. Leila was a talented watercolour artist, proud to have once received an award from Group of Seven artist A.Y. Jackson, and proud that, in 2019, one of her landscapes was presented to Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of Her Majesty’s 93rd birthday. She taught piano for many years, hand-stitched quilts, crocheted afghans, kept friends and family well supplied with home-made cookies, and tended beautiful gardens. She loved drives in the country with her sketch book and late-night canoe paddles at her cottage at Lac Sam. A true Nova Scotian, she also loved to walk the wild sandy beaches of her home province during trips back home. She was thrifty, practical and wise, counselling her children to do as she did and “take it one day at a time.” The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Riverstone Carlingwood Retirement Residence, where Leila made a home and many friends. The family also thanks the Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. Be at peace, sweet mother, you are here with us.
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