April 6, 1933 – March 27, 2020
It is with profound sorrow we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother and great grandmother Leona Knox peacefully at home, on her own terms on Friday, March27th. She was surrounded by her family and was telling stories and joking until the very end. She was strong and brave and faced her illness with the attitude that she had a very good long life and we all have to go sometime.
Mom was born
and raised in Pointe du Bois. She spent many days helping her father Pete
cutting wood, fishing and hunting. She
started dating her true love Albert in high school. Upon completion of high school Leona went to
Winnipeg to attend business college. A
short time later she and Albert married. A year later Karen was born. Three years later
Kevin was born. After a few years of
being away from Pointe they came home for good. Mom loved Pointe. She enjoyed everything that it had to offer.
Fishing, hunting, curling, snowmobiling, community events and of course
socializing.
Later in life she liked watching sports. Especially curling and hockey. If you wanted to hear swearing, it meant the Jets were having a bad game. Mom moved to Lac du Bonnet in 2015. The house in Pointe became too much and all her friends had left. She was a real social butterfly and joined many organizations and made a lot of new friends. Always a smile and always a light joke or comment, that was mom.
She was predeceased by her parents Alli and Pekka Livo, her husband Albert and her brother George. She will be deeply missed by her family, son Kevin (Emilee), daughter Karen (Cam), her grandchildren Kristen and Brendan (Tasha) Arsenault and Alli Knox. She also leaves her precious great grandsons Reid and Hudson Arsenault.
We would like to thank all her friends who have been so supportive throughout her illness. We would also like to especially thank Lisa Kroeker, her health care provider who has gone above and beyond in her care and compassion for our mother.
There will be a celebration of life at a later date.
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Alex Dancyt
Beautiful write up of Leona. She was a staple at the arena and curling club each season for sure! She will be missed by so many, Her quiet wit and quick hello’s will always be something I remember of her. She was truly a great lady. Condolences to you all, my heart aches for you guys.
Sally hirst
So sorry to hear about Leona she and always stopped and talked greatest times when we swam at Glen Howard’s Lynn before closing and times shared at hockey games ( God has called her home for bigger reasons ) will miss her smile God take care of youse at this difficult time ( always rember moms can’t live forever and she is now in good hands sincerely a friend
Kathy Eronen
Condolences to the whole Family on the passing of the Pointe du Bois Legend! So many memories of Leona, so I will start at the beginning. Her parents/family welcomed my parents to Pointe, at the house/cottage that we all remember. When I was in my 20’s Leona and Albert were everywhere in Pointe. We would meet down the River, in the Bush, in town, and occasionally at their place for a beverage. After Albert passed, we did see less of Leona. After my mom passed Leona and Yogi would pick blueberries or have breakfast together. Companionship! When she moved to Lac du Bonnet, I’d hear Leona ask how I was, were my boys still playing hockey? This Summer I met the new owners of the Pointe house, they were in kayaks off my shoreline. They introduced themselves, Hi we are (so and so), we bought Leona’s place! So yes, she is a Pointe du Bois legend as well as just a plain wonderful person. In my heart I know she is with Albert right now, and we miss them but are lucky to have known them.
May your memories keep her close,
Kathy Eronen
Kathy eronen
Oops forgot to mention how many times Yuma scared the cr#p out of me, and Sorry Leona…Alberts pulla was better !
June (Repo) Wiebe
“Sisu” (see’-soo), is a Finnish word used to typify the Finnish spirit and cannot be fully translated. A person who has Sisu pertains to someone who has: strength of will, determination, resilience, hardiness, grit, bravery and acting rationally in the face of adversity. That was Leona.
I have so many wonderful memories of Leona from childhood at Pointe to her later years. Erkki and Tyyne Åström, my maternal grandparents, were friends with Alli and Pekka and my parents, Esko and Annie Repo, were friends with Leona and Albert. At my parents wedding, June 5, 1952, Leona and Albert announced their engagement.
I will miss Leona’s quick wit, hearty laugh, those beautiful blue eyes and infectious smile. Leona was a longtime member of the Finnish-Canadian Club and weather permitting she would often attend our Finnish Club brunches. I always admired Leona’s fluency in Finnish. Our conversations would begin in Finnish…until I got stuck for words.
Leona was a special lady and she will be missed by many.
Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
The Hartikainen/Loeb family
Leona was our neighbour at Pointe du Bois and friendly and feisty are the best words we can think of to describe her incredible personality. We bought the cottage next door to Albert and Leona from the Pikkarianens, thus adding to the Finnish population there. We were saddened when she told us of her plans to leave Pointe and we are deeply saddened now to hear of her passing. Leona would inform us when the snow had gone and then we knew it was time to return to the cottage. We always looked forward to her visits as she would wander over to say hello and invite us to her place for “happy hour”. Her Texas caviar was the best! We often met up with Leona at the Scandinavian Centre as she was a supporter of the Finnish club. She was wonderful at keeping in touch with people, often just passing along a joke she had been sent on the computer. Having long conversations with people, of any age, came easily to Leona, a testament to her ability to make anyone feel comfortable in her presence. Goodbye, dear friend!
Bill & Laurie Campbell
Karen & Cam, Kevin & Emilee and families
So sorry to hear about your loss, A Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandma can never be replaced, but her memories will last forever. We hope those memories will comfort your family now and forever.