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Leona MacDonald
In Memory of
Leona Hazel
MacDonald (Rivett)
1934 - 2020
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Hulse, Playfair & McGarry
315 McLeod Street
Ottawa, Ontario
CANADA
K2P 1A2

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Obituary for Leona Hazel MacDonald (Rivett)

Leona Hazel  MacDonald (Rivett)
Leona Hazel MacDonald (Rivett)
January 29, 1934 – March 6, 2020
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear Mom, Leona MacDonald, who passed away peacefully at the Ottawa General Hospital at the age of 86. Leona was a loving, kind and generous mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and cherished friend.
Leona was born in Matheson Ontario and grew up in Kirkland Lake Ontario where she lived with her parents and 7 younger siblings in a small home built by her father. At the age of 15 Leona moved to Toronto, where she fell in love and married Stewart MacDonald, who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force shortly after. Leona and Stewart raised their family on Canadian Forces Bases in Alberta, Germany, Nova Scotia and finally in Ottawa, Ontario. As a hardworking mother, Leona worked in and outside of her home by teaching Sunday school, and by volunteering at church functions and at her children’s schools and activities. Always involved in their education, including home schooling and tutoring her children, she instilled a strong work ethic. Leona also provided child care to other families … and at CFB Baden she worked as Assistant Manager at the Grocery and CANEX stores. In Ottawa, Leona graduated Nursing school in 1975 to become a Registered Nursing Assistant. She was selected by both teachers and fellow students as the Valedictorian of her class. She worked with the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON), at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and St. Vincent’s Hospital in Ottawa. Often befriending her patients, Leona was a selfless person who devoted countless hours of her own time helping elderly people. Leona had special and loving relationships with each of her 4 children and 10 grandchildren. Always interested and supportive of her grandchildren she was a preferred babysitter and a regular attendee at activities and special events. In her senior years, spending memorable and special moments with her 17 great-grandchildren (holding the new babies and watching them grow) brought her great joy and happiness in this stage of her life. Leona’s oldest great-grandson just turned 15 years old and her youngest is just 7 months old. She was overjoyed with each new addition to her ever growing family. She always considered herself to be very blessed. Leona also enjoyed lifelong friendships with friends made throughout her life and travels, and stayed in touch through visits, letters, cards and telephone calls. Leona had a love of music, reading and correspondence. She was known for her beautiful handwriting, an art form her children were always proud of, especially when taking her notes to school. Her favourite musicians included Elvis Presley and Anne Murray and her favourite television shows included Coronation Street and Days of Our Lives. Sundays were dedicated to Church services, Bible stories and prayer. She was honoured to be asked by dear friends to be God-Mother to their three children Debbie, Gary and Todd Fleet. Leona’s faith in God endured throughout her entire life and formed the unbreakable values that she always lived by. She was the most honourable and courageous person her children have ever known. Mom is now re-united in Heaven with the many precious loved ones that went before her.
Leona was predeceased by her husband and life-long friend, John Stewart MacDonald in 2019, and by her beloved grandson Jonas Mitchell in 2018. Leona was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Evelyn (Leigh) Rivett; her mother-in-law Annie MacDonald; her sister Norma Garlick and brother-in-law Roy Garlick; her brothers Arnold Rivett and Mervin Rivett and sister-in-law Alice Rivett; sisters-in-law Janet MacDonald and Margaret Embree; brothers-in-law Elliott Embree, Rudy Grzelak, Bill MacDonald, and Stan Matthews, special cousin Ilene Ball. As well Leona lost many dear friends including Mary Jean and Don Sova, Lois Koch and her son Richard, Jerry Fleet and Bill Bray.
Leona is survived by her grateful and proud children Stewart (Donna), Glenn, Darlene and Judith (Glen); by her grandchildren and their spouses: Christopher (Melanie), Candice (Troy), Sondra (Joel), Sean (Ellie), Caitlin (Mark), Tyler (Amanda), Jeremy, Jessica and Cody (Zephania); and by her great-grandchildren Makenzie, Nolan, Naomi, Lily, Ty, Alex, Atlee, Beia, Wren, Keeler, Brynn, Hudson, Isabelle, Amelia, Nathaniel, Cameron and Zachary. A new great grandson Ollie has been born in 2021.
Leona is survived by her sisters Vivian Grzelak, Lorraine MacDonald and Helen Matthews; her brother and sister-in-law Ted and Marg Rivett; her sister-in-law and very dear friend Sherry Rivett; and by her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Duncan, Alex and Lois MacDonald; and by many nieces and nephews and their families. Leona is also survived by lifelong and close friends Irja Hansen, Dolores Fleet, Joan Bray, the Sova family, Beverley Barr, Bibiane Seguin, June and Ken Carroll, Lydia and Ken Brose.
The family are very grateful for the medical staff at the Ottawa General Hospital and the loving care of the nursing staff on 5 North East Ward. Thank you all for your dedication and kindness.
May all those who were touched by our mother find great comfort in the precious moments and memories she shared with you. Our Mom was an exceptional woman who gave so much in her life to so many. Her love and influence will live on in our hearts forever.
Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus the funeral service for Leona must be delayed until family members are able to travel and come together to celebrate her life. This obituary will be updated as further information becomes available. Donations can be made to the Trans Canada Trail, Ottawa General Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) or St. Vincent’s Hospital in Ottawa. Thank you.

"We leave all kinds of footprints when we walk through life. Some you can see, others are invisible, like the prints we leave across other people's lives."

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