Obituary for Leona Doreen Lavallée (Craven)
Leona Doreen Lavallée
(née Craven)
April 15, 1934 – September 26, 2021
After a long life in good health, Leona died on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at age 87, at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Until a stroke three weeks earlier, she had been very active – driving, researching, emailing, and enjoying life in her own home.
Leona was born on April 15, 1934 on the Craven homestead near Pierson, Manitoba, where her family had deep roots. During the Second World War, while a student in Pierson, Leona was a member of the Junior Red Cross and knitted quilt squares which her mother then assembled into blankets to be sent to soldiers serving overseas.
Leona studied for two years at Brandon College (later Brandon University) and then graduated from a two-year executive assistant (secretarial) course at Success Business College in Winnipeg.
After some time working as the secretary of Rev. Dr. W.C. Lockhart, principal of United College (University of Winnipeg), Leona and another secretary/friend embarked on the overseas adventure of a lifetime in 1956. They travelled by train and ship to London, took a three-week tour of Europe, backpacked for seven weeks in the British Isles, and even worked in offices in London.
She met Aimé Lavallée in 1954 at the Winnipeg Roller Rink, and they were married in 1959. Leona worked at Saskatchewan Wheat Pool for over five years until 1962 when she became a stay-at-home mother while her children were young.
Leona returned to the work force, first in the City of Winnipeg departments of health, recreation and parks (the facade of the building was later restored by Red River College), and stints as secretary to Arnold Spohr of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and as typist in an office in the Birt Saddlery building.
From 1969 until her early retirement in 1992, she was a dedicated employee of Manitoba’s Department of Agriculture, mostly at the Norquay Building, where she was secretary to the Director of Agriculture and to other departments. In her youth on the farm, Leona had been a 4-H member and was pleased to, as an adult, do secretarial work for this provincial program. She was a very early user of computers and assisted the Department of Agriculture in transitioning from typewriters to computers.
For many years, Leona curled with the Cameron Highlanders in Winnipeg. Retirement allowed more time with family and friends. She tried her hand at home renovations, and also enjoyed the family pets, gardening, springtime, current events, Toastmasters, writing, supporting the NDP, reading, movies – and peppermints.
Leona was a skilled genealogist who, after decades of research and when over 80, wrote her family history, entitled, Journeys to the Southwest Corner of Manitoba. She also wrote extensive family trees on Ancestry.
Leona was predeceased by Aimé, her husband of 42 years, in 2001, parents Vina Elizabeth (née Dandy, 1984) and Guy Roderick Craven (1979), and brother Earl (1969).
She is survived by son Albert, daughter Vaudree, both of Winnipeg, and grandchildren John, Kevin, and Marina, sisters-in-law Noreen Craven of Winnipeg and Raymonde Dillabough (née Lavallée) of Ottawa, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Leona was unfailingly devoted to her family and greatly enjoyed living in Norwood West for nearly 60 years. She was a gentle, calm, reassuring presence in our lives. While it will be difficult to adjust to our loss, we take comfort in feeling her spirit watching over us, and are so grateful that she was our Mom, Grandma, Aunt, and Friend.
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the caring staff of Health Sciences Centre GH 6 & 7
Ever modest, Leona requested that there be no formal service. Her ashes will join Aimé’s at Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens. Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
E.J. Coutu & Company is entrusted with the arrangements.
In our hearts, we’ll see you.
In our hearts, we’ll hear you.
In our hearts, we’ll keep you.
(née Craven)
April 15, 1934 – September 26, 2021
After a long life in good health, Leona died on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at age 87, at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Until a stroke three weeks earlier, she had been very active – driving, researching, emailing, and enjoying life in her own home.
Leona was born on April 15, 1934 on the Craven homestead near Pierson, Manitoba, where her family had deep roots. During the Second World War, while a student in Pierson, Leona was a member of the Junior Red Cross and knitted quilt squares which her mother then assembled into blankets to be sent to soldiers serving overseas.
Leona studied for two years at Brandon College (later Brandon University) and then graduated from a two-year executive assistant (secretarial) course at Success Business College in Winnipeg.
After some time working as the secretary of Rev. Dr. W.C. Lockhart, principal of United College (University of Winnipeg), Leona and another secretary/friend embarked on the overseas adventure of a lifetime in 1956. They travelled by train and ship to London, took a three-week tour of Europe, backpacked for seven weeks in the British Isles, and even worked in offices in London.
She met Aimé Lavallée in 1954 at the Winnipeg Roller Rink, and they were married in 1959. Leona worked at Saskatchewan Wheat Pool for over five years until 1962 when she became a stay-at-home mother while her children were young.
Leona returned to the work force, first in the City of Winnipeg departments of health, recreation and parks (the facade of the building was later restored by Red River College), and stints as secretary to Arnold Spohr of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and as typist in an office in the Birt Saddlery building.
From 1969 until her early retirement in 1992, she was a dedicated employee of Manitoba’s Department of Agriculture, mostly at the Norquay Building, where she was secretary to the Director of Agriculture and to other departments. In her youth on the farm, Leona had been a 4-H member and was pleased to, as an adult, do secretarial work for this provincial program. She was a very early user of computers and assisted the Department of Agriculture in transitioning from typewriters to computers.
For many years, Leona curled with the Cameron Highlanders in Winnipeg. Retirement allowed more time with family and friends. She tried her hand at home renovations, and also enjoyed the family pets, gardening, springtime, current events, Toastmasters, writing, supporting the NDP, reading, movies – and peppermints.
Leona was a skilled genealogist who, after decades of research and when over 80, wrote her family history, entitled, Journeys to the Southwest Corner of Manitoba. She also wrote extensive family trees on Ancestry.
Leona was predeceased by Aimé, her husband of 42 years, in 2001, parents Vina Elizabeth (née Dandy, 1984) and Guy Roderick Craven (1979), and brother Earl (1969).
She is survived by son Albert, daughter Vaudree, both of Winnipeg, and grandchildren John, Kevin, and Marina, sisters-in-law Noreen Craven of Winnipeg and Raymonde Dillabough (née Lavallée) of Ottawa, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Leona was unfailingly devoted to her family and greatly enjoyed living in Norwood West for nearly 60 years. She was a gentle, calm, reassuring presence in our lives. While it will be difficult to adjust to our loss, we take comfort in feeling her spirit watching over us, and are so grateful that she was our Mom, Grandma, Aunt, and Friend.
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the caring staff of Health Sciences Centre GH 6 & 7
Ever modest, Leona requested that there be no formal service. Her ashes will join Aimé’s at Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens. Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
E.J. Coutu & Company is entrusted with the arrangements.
In our hearts, we’ll see you.
In our hearts, we’ll hear you.
In our hearts, we’ll keep you.