LEONA GRACE OLSEN

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LEONA GRACE OLSEN 1918 - 2003 It is with deep sadness that the family announce the passing of their mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister Leona Grace Olsen on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 at the age of 85 at the Teulon Hunter Memorial Hospital. Leona was born January 30, 1918 in Gunton, MB to Jens and Ellen Sparvath (Sparwood). As a young girl, she enjoyed playing the piano and organ, dancing, baseball, and cooking and baking. She married Albert Moore in 1934 and they lived in the Gunton area for 12 years until they bought a farm in Inwood in 1946. During the years they spent together, they raised their seven children. Leona was always busy doing something: making bread, gardening, baking and more. She was an extremely hard worker who always made everyone who came into her home feel welcome. Albert passed away in 1975 and Leona stayed on the farm until 1976 when she married John Olsen and moved into town. Leona and John sold their house and moved into the Inwood Manor in the summer of 1996, and John later passed away that fall. Leona remained at the manor until her recent hospital stay in April 2003 and developed many friendships that she held very dear to her heart with the residents there. Her apartment was "grand central station" for all who knew her, and that was how she wanted it. Predeceased by her parents, Jens in 1985 and Ellen in 1949; her husbands, Albert in 1975 and John in 1996; her sister Beatrice Hibbitt in 1998; and daughter-in-law Jessie Moore in 2000. Leona leaves to mourn, her children, Norman Moore (Joyce), Bruce (Lynne) Moore, Merle (Lloyd) Ewert, Marilyn (Jack) Palen, Darlene (Manny) DeBono, Cathy Lancaster (friend Garry) and Brian (Teresa) Moore; her stepsons, Glenn (Joyce) and Herman (Alma) Olsen; her siblings, Violet (Mark) Edmondson, Edna McMahon, Rhoda (Russell) Kunzelman, Doreen (Lloyd) Campbell, Irene Corrigal, Oliver Hibbitt, Rosemary (Lyle) Hodge; grandma Mary Sparwood; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral service will be held Saturday, June 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Inwood Memorial Hall with Pastor Alf Sander officiating and an interment to follow at the Inwood Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be her grandsons, Darcy Moore, Curtis Moore, Ken Palen, Tim Lancaster, Doug Olsen and Conrad Olsen. Everyone present will be considered an honorary pallbearer. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to either the Teulon Hunter Memorial Hospital or the Inwood Gethsmane Lutheran Church. Special thanks need to be expressed to both her daughter Cathy and her sister Edna for the countless hours spent with Leona at the hospital as well as the staff at both St. Boniface General Hospital and Teulon Memorial Hospital for their compassionate care. MacKenzie Funeral Home, Teulon in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 13, 2003