Leonard passed away peacefully in Powell River the morning of August 17 with family at his side.
Having had heart issues since Expo 86 and, more recently, kidney issues, Len felt the past 30-plus years of living were his 649 jackpot. He never dreamed he would see all his boys marry and give him 11 grandchildren and then be able to see more than half of those grandchildren graduate.
Len was born in Frankville, Nova Scotia, and headed west in his late teens after hearing there was plenty of work out this way. And work he found: slashing power lines by hand, working at the old Burg and Johnson sawmill on Haslam Lake, putting in time with the Powell River fire department and spending 41 years in the finishing room down at “the mill.”
Len married “our Miss Brooks,” Alice Nassichuk, in June of 1957. While he had left his Nova Scotia family back east, he became part of an even bigger family out west. He loved fishing, working on their house, playing 649 and penny stocks and making the odd visit to a casino. When he wasn’t busy with these pastimes, he loved it when family, especially his grandkids, would stop by. Most recently, a highlight for him was just being out with friends and getting caught up over a cup of coffee. If there happened to be a Keno machine on site, so much the better!
Len is survived by his wife of 60 years Alice, his four sons Blake (Brenda), Todd (Louise), Ward (Amanda) and Randy (Christine), and grandchildren Kyra, Keaton, Alissa, Kayley, Brock, Carly, Victoria, Madison, Emma, Sophia and Grayson.
We would like to extend our gratitude to Len’s many doctors and health professionals, especially Dr. Danielle Marentette, Dr. Blake Hoffert, Dr. Sneeta Takhar, Dr. Brian Symonds, Dr. Javer and Dr. Boone for their wonderful care and support through these many years.
Many thanks also to Father Dass and Father Tepoorten for their ongoing spiritual support.
Prayers for Leonard will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 23, at Church of the Assumption. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, August 24, also at Church of the Assumption; a tea will follow in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or the Canadian Cancer Society.