Leona LANDRY

MARCHIONDA, Leona (nee Landry) - 1948-2009 - Leona passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the St. Catharines General Hospital following a brave battle with lung and brain cancer. She will be sadly missed by her husband Gino; her three children Daniel Drapeau (Patti), Gaetan Drapeau (Cathy), Lynn Drapeau (John), former son-in-law Blair; and her five grandsons Brendan Burgess, Patrick Burgess, Matthew Drapeau, Christopher Drapeau and Ryan Drapeau. Leona was a fiercely protective mother and grandmother. She always did everything in her power to ensure her grandchildren would never go without anything. She loved and cherished every moment that she got to spend with them right to the very end. The most important thing to Leona was education. She was the proudest mother in the room when all three of her children graduated from college. Her one wish was to live long enough to see all of her grandsons graduate from high school. She bravely fought through the winter until she could fight no more. But before she died, she made them all promise that they would work hard and graduate for her. Throughout her life, Leona channelled her abundant energy into raising her children and working hard to create a successful business with her husband Gino. She made many sacrifices to make sure those children, and through them, her grandchildren, would be taken care of even after she passed. Her indomitable spirit will live on through her children and her grandchildren. The family would like to thank Leona's family physician Dr. Redman; Dr. Hughes and the entire oncology department at St. Catharines General Hospital; the Community Care Access Centre including caseworkers Andrea and Charlene and nurses Elizabeth and Pam; and the wonderful folks at the Loyalist Retirement Home in St. Catharines. Visitation will be 6-9 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2009 at BUTLER FUNERAL HOME, 424 Niagara St., St. Catharines. A funeral service will be 10 a.m. at Butler Funeral Home on Saturday, March 7, 2009 with interment to follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it was Leona's wish that donations be made to the Walker Family Cancer Centre. 11432491