Obituary of Leona Anna Vanthuyne

VANTHUYNE, Leona Anna (Haghedooren) It is with profound sadness that the family announces the passing of Leona Vanthuyne, on August 4, 2016, at age 90, a resident of Riverview Gardens in Chatham, formerly of Blenheim. Born in Roeselare, West Flanders Belgium on June 28, 1926. Daughter of the late Alberic Haghedooren and Celestine Vandewynckel, stepdaughter of Marie Descamps. Beloved wife of the late Gilbert Vanthuyne (1965). Loving Mother of Luc (Nancy) Vanthuyne, Patrick (Rose) Vanthuyne and Marc (Cherie) Vanthuyne. Cherished Gramma to Michelle (Tim) Bartlett, Scott (Chasity) Vanthuyne, Julie Pumfrey, Stephanie (Bill) Massender, Kerry Chartrand, Dan (Sharon) Vanthuyne, and Jenelle (Brandon) Ball. Great Gramma to Dustin, Alisha (Zakary), Colin, Ashton, Bailey, Samantha, Cole, Ryleigh, Connor, Abigail, Eva, McKenna, Baylea, Preston, Alexis, Madelyn and Brielle. Great Great Gramma to Zayden. Dear sister to Anna Verbeke-Haghedooren, Jacqueline Haghedooren, Francine Hosten-Haghedooren, Yolanda (Marcel) Dorme-Haghedooren and Christian (Stephan) DeSmet-Haghedooren, also many nieces and nephews all in Belgium. Predeceased by her husband Gilbert, infant son Leo, brother Germain and brother-in-laws Michel Verbeke and Josef Hosten. Leona and her beloved Gilbert were married in 1946 in what was then the Belgian Congo. After living for several years in the Congo where Gilbert worked for the Belgian government they returned to Belgium. In 1956 given a poor economy in Europe at the time they made a tough decision to leave family and friends and immigrate to Canada. Gilbert passed away suddenly in 1965. She was devastated but marched on with life. She laboured in the farm fields of Raleigh Township and at the old British Leaf Tobacco plant before working 21 years as a custodian at Harwich Raleigh Public School in Blenheim. Through much hard work, sacrifice and with enormous pride she finished raising their three sons. She was an absolute pleasure to all those who knew her. She loved her family dearly as they were the centerpiece of her life. She will be sadly missed and forever in our hearts. Visitation will be held at the McKinlay Funeral Home, 141 Park St., Blenheim, Ont, on Monday August 8, 2016 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. Parish Prayers will be shared at 8pm. Visitation will continue on Tuesday August 9, 2016 from 10:30 - 11 am. The Funeral Mass will then follow at 11:30am at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 95 Marlborough St. N., Blenheim with Fr. Hoang as Celebrant. Burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. Those wishing to leave an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com. <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/178028994" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/178028994">Leona Vanthuyne</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user27484248">McKinlay Funeral Homes Ltd.</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>