Obituary
Jessie Leona Smith (June 23, 1931 - October 5, 2012) It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of our beautiful, intelligent and talented sister, Leona on Friday, October 5, 2012. She was born in Amherst on June 23, 1931 to Jessie Hannah Sisk Smith and Carl Acel Smith, a musician and engineering student. By 1937 the family, which now included two additional members, Annie and Carl Jr., moved to Lachine, Quebec, where employment opportunities for engineers were available between the end of the great depression and preparation for war. The Smith family increased with the arrival of Robert in 1938 and Leona's siblings numbered three. The family have remained close ever since. All four members were educated in Quebec. Leona graduated from high school at the age of 15 and subsequently received her credentials at University of Montreal affiliate L'Ecole Superieur de Musique in Lachine, Quebec. She was a student and performer with a drive for learning the intricate music and language of the Masters ,including French, German and Italian. She was immediately called upon to sing in a wide variety of venues and to play the organ in cathederals and churches of all denominations. Her talent took her to the USA where she was billed as the "Little Canadian" girl with the Big Voice doing operas and musicals such as " Carmen," " The Vagabond King" and "The Red Mill". Leona's only child, Robbie, was born October 28, 1954, and in 1959 the family moved to Nova Scotia, having built a home overlooking Jordan Bay. She enjoyed nothing more than helping to gather all the instruments and performing with her musical family including original compositions written by her son, brother, and sister. Leona was a family girl who had a natural gift for tending, caring, cooking and sharing and she will be sorely missed by her family and friends. Visitation will be Wednesday, October 10 from 7-9 p.m. in H. M. Huskilson's Funeral Home, Shelburne. A funeral service will take place on Thursday at 2:00 pm in St. Andrews United Church, Lockeport, with Pastor Kevin Cox officiating. Memorial donations made be made to the Roseway Hospital Foundation Fund. On-line condolences may be sent to: hmhuskilson@ns.aliantzinc.ca or you may sign the guest book at www.huskilson.net Source: H. M. Huskilson's Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Yarmouth NS - www.huskilson.net
[posted to NSCumber mailing list by Paul Raymond on 16 Oct 2012]
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1931 - 2012 (81 years)
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