Obituary for Alison "Ali" Leonard
We are saddened to announce that Alison (Ali) passed away at Headwaters Hospital on May 16 at the age of 78. She was the beloved mother of Yvonne (wife of Ryan) and Pauline (wife of Stuart) and the cherished Granny of Dylan and Eryca. She will be greatly missed by her sister Dee and brothers Colin and Brian and her many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Born in Surrey, England, Ali emigrated to Canada in 1967, and soon fell in love with the natural beauty of this country. She moved to Dufferin County in 1980 and touched many people in the area as a child and youth worker and later, a social worker.
Ali’s love of the outdoors took her on adventures across Canada, from hiking at Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland to sea kayaking off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Her garden was one of her greatest passions and she knew the latin name of every plant. Singing was an important part of her life and she enjoyed the harmonies of both traditional English folk music and choral music. She sang alto with with her dear friends Tina and John in their trio Triangl and with the Achill Choral Society for close to forty years. She was one of the original members of Orange Peel Morris dancers and also loved English country dancing. Ali was also an avid knitter, spinner and weaver, raising sheep for many years on a small farm in Mono.
Words cannot express our gratitude for the compassionate care Ali received at Headwaters Hospital. Memorial donations may be made to the Headwaters Hospital Friendship Gardens (https://www.friendshipgardens.ca/donate).
A tree will be planted in Alison’s memory in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville, where she loved to walk. A celebration of life will be held later this year.
Ali will be deeply missed by family, friends and the community.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there; I did not die.
~ by Mary Elizabeth Frye
Born in Surrey, England, Ali emigrated to Canada in 1967, and soon fell in love with the natural beauty of this country. She moved to Dufferin County in 1980 and touched many people in the area as a child and youth worker and later, a social worker.
Ali’s love of the outdoors took her on adventures across Canada, from hiking at Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland to sea kayaking off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Her garden was one of her greatest passions and she knew the latin name of every plant. Singing was an important part of her life and she enjoyed the harmonies of both traditional English folk music and choral music. She sang alto with with her dear friends Tina and John in their trio Triangl and with the Achill Choral Society for close to forty years. She was one of the original members of Orange Peel Morris dancers and also loved English country dancing. Ali was also an avid knitter, spinner and weaver, raising sheep for many years on a small farm in Mono.
Words cannot express our gratitude for the compassionate care Ali received at Headwaters Hospital. Memorial donations may be made to the Headwaters Hospital Friendship Gardens (https://www.friendshipgardens.ca/donate).
A tree will be planted in Alison’s memory in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville, where she loved to walk. A celebration of life will be held later this year.
Ali will be deeply missed by family, friends and the community.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there; I did not die.
~ by Mary Elizabeth Frye