Leona Mary Daley
May 26, 1932 – December 15, 2019
Leona Daley (née Benteau) passed away December 15, 2019 aged 87. She was born on May 26,1932 in Point May, Newfoundland and Labrador to Reginald Benteau and Lucy (Henebury). She had three brothers, Austin, Gerald and Michael and seven sisters Lillian, her twin Sheila, Marcella, Ursula, Stella, Bernice and Helen. Gerald, Lillian, Stella, Bernice and Helen survive her.
Leona met Michael Daley, the love of her life, in Goose Bay, Labrador where they married on September 8, 1959. They had three children, Brian (Kathleen Roger), Annette (Glen Abbott) and Carolyn (Mike Summers) all born in Goose Bay who went on to have careers in law, public service and health care.
Mike and Leona lived in St. John’s, Grand Falls, Corner Brook, Halifax, St. John, NB and Ottawa, where Mike retired from a career with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in 1993. They returned to St. John’s in 2017 where they lived together in Tiffany Village until Mike’s death on June 19, 2018.
Leona was devoted to her family and adored her grandchildren, Julia, Catriona and Lauren. Leona was famously sociable and introduced herself to famous people she saw on the street, including Stephen Harper, Jean Chrétien, Mikhail Gorbachev and Hilary Clinton. These encounters went well despite the low esteem in which she held most politicians. Mike and Leona also met the Queen during the royal visit to Newfoundland in 1978.
Leona’s tenacity was admired by family and friends alike. She never backed down when she felt she was in the right; a lesson learned by many. The same tenacity was evident in her final days. Leona was fortunate to be close to her daughter Carolyn in St. John’s, who looked after many of her needs and kept her company during the last two years.
The family are grateful for the kindness of Dr. Coleman and the staff at Tiffany Village, who were fond of Leona and always had a kind word for her. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will take place at Caul’s Funeral Home, 84 Lemarchant Road on Wednesday December 18 at 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at Caul’s Chapel on Thursday December 19, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. Flowers or donations to the Gathering Place are welcome.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Leona Mary Daley 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Torbay, Province: T-N