LEONA FALKENBERG (JENDRASHESKE)

Condolences & Memories (2 entries)

• Leona! Such a unique name for a great lady! In 1992 I put an ad in the newspaper looking for someone to babysit our two boys while both my husband Tim and I worked. When I met Leona, I fell in love with her instantly. Knowing that my opinion of her could cloud my judgement, I checked her reference from the Grace Hospital and they told me “If you found her, don’t let her go!!”… and we never did. She literally was Grandma to our children as we lived 1,000 miles from the kids only surviving grandma. I learned so many lessons from Leona on life and love. Her life mantra was; “If I slow down, I’ll get old!! She truly never slowed down!! Being a nurse, I offered to be her advocate when she went to a hypertension specialist at HSC. During her assessment, the doctor asked her if she was active to which Leona simply replied “yes”. I sat there in utter dismay! When the doctor was about to ask her another question I piped up and said, “Wait a minute (making a time-out symbol with my hands)”. I looked at Leona and said, “Leona, the doctor just asked an elderly woman if she was active and you simply just said “Yes”. Do you know that he is making an assumption of what that means?” I looked at the doctor and said “her idea of active is: in a single day, she will clean the house, go outside and harvest the garden, then turn the whole garden over, clean and put away her harvest and then take care of the kids when they get home from school!!! SHE’S A MACHINE!!!”. The doctor just looked at us in surprise and said “WOW!”. I remember the day when I told Leona that we were planning on having a third child. She paused, took a deep breath and slowly said ….”Okay” as she exhaled. A few years later I informed her that we were thinking of getting a dog and without hesitation she said, “I QUIT!” Of course, she didn’t and the memory of that moment stuck LOL!! There were times when I had an office day and I could hear the interactions between the kids and Leona! You have to remember that Leona was a “no-nonsense farm girl”. Our preschool daughter Leigh would tempt Leona to a reaction by saying “Leona, I’m going to fall……. Leona, I’m going to fall….. LEONA, I’M GOING TO FALL” and Leona would respond “SO FALL ALREADY!!!”. I leapt to my feet and ran to them killing myself laughing and say “Leona, are you sure we aren’t related?” Leona and I always seemed to be on the same page about so many things Steven, during his elementary school years, would run into the house upset and complain to Leona that the boy next door punched him. Leona would simply reply “SO PUNCH HIM BACK!” She addressed life with such simplicity – black and white and straight to the point. Sometimes the boys would infuriate her, and she would warn John, “if you don’t stop, I’ll give you a spanking!” Leona, they knew these were idle threats which is why John would start to giggle when you said this!! Leona, we miss you so much but please know the love you gave and the lessons you taught us will be carried with us through the rest of our lives. I will continue to face life with simplicity to issues, no-nonsense responses and NEVER SLOW DOWN! We love you xxx Liz, Tim, John, Steven and Leigh - Posted by: Liz Truant (Loving friend) on: Mar 21, 2020

• Leona was part of my family before I even arrived. My parents hired her as a babysitter/nanny when my Mom went to work full time. I loved Leona with all my heart. She was my grandma. Not by blood, but if I’m being honest I saw her more than my own biological grandmas and she meant the world to me. I will never forget all the cinnamon buns she baked for me, the strawberry rhubarb pies, and the countless times I would make her take my chocolate milk back to the kitchen to either add more chocolate or more milk to make it just right. My brothers and I always loved going to Leona’s house. She had the most unique basement which was designed like a 50s bar and lounge. My brothers and I would play bartender at the age of five, nine, and twelve; a bit young to be drinking if you ask me! I remember Leona’s shuffle board table, all her colouring books, and her checkers. I remember her always sitting in her chair knitting or crocheting as I would watch her coocoo clock tick by, excited for the little bird to pop out. I remember we always had tea together and she was always so interested in my life. She never forgot a single birthday of mine or my brothers. She was always there. Her house had a very distinct smell, that warmed you up. It felt like home and maybe that’s because I associated it with the wonderful woman that lived there. Whenever Mom would come to pick us up, Leona would come out of her house and wave and blow us a thousand kisses goodbye and she wouldn’t stop until we were out of eyeshot... she may have even continued even after we were gone, for all I know. Leona was the kind of woman who had an abundance of goodness and kindness and yet she also took no shit. This came in handy knowing she loved us with all her heart but she also wasn’t afraid to discipline John or Steven when they inevitably were being little torments to their little sister. Moving away was tough, I knew I’d lose a lot of my relationships that I had in Winnipeg, some I did, but Leona I did not. Even when I was far away Leona would still call me from time to time and would never forget to call me on my birthday. She was the most humble, hardworking, caring, smart, funny, generous, and loving woman and I am forever grateful that she was a part of my life. I wish I could have called her one last time to tell her all of this, and it breaks my heart over and over again knowing I can’t, but I hope she knew, and I’m sure she did, that I loved her with all of my heart. - Posted by: Leigh Truant (Extended Family) on: Mar 21, 2020