Died peacefully at the age of 95 on December 15, 2009 after a brief stay in Toronto's Houses of Providence. She had moved to the Toronto geriatric care centre after living almost 60 years in Windsor, Ontario. Leona, known to many as Lena, is predeceased by her husband Edward (1963), her oldest son Edward (2004), and a granddaughter, Suzanne (1976). She is survived by a large and loving family including her children, Wayne (Gail), Mary Lou, Robert (Virginia) and Anne Sprague (Douglas), and daughter-in-law, Nancy. Leona was born on August 11, 1914, in Waubaushene, Ontario, the youngest of Marie (Therrion) and Alfred Arbour's 11 children. Raised in an idyllic rural community in Northern Ontario, she grew up among the joys and simplicities of farm life from which she derived many entertaining stories to share in later years. As a teen, Leona thrilled to the robust competition between her two NHL-playing brothers often pitted against one another when their teams played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. At the time of her death, the youngest Arbour was predeceased by all of her siblings, Fred Arbour, Emily Lacroix, Ernest "Ty" Arbour, Jack Arbour, Ida "Ede" Hickey, Edna Davis, Alsime "Al" Handy, Agnes "Gig" Middleton, William Arbour, and Mae Boyleau.

Along with her husband, young family, nearby brothers and sisters and many in-laws, Leona spent some of her happiest years in Toronto as a young bride and mother. In 1953, after a relatively short stint in St. Lambert, Quebec, the O'Reillys embraced Windsor as their new community and became particularly intertwined with life at Assumption High School. In the '50s and early '60s, Leona was appreciated not only as a varsity sports fan but, more importantly, as the launder of team uniforms. Along with her husband, who led the school's Dad's Club, she forged a happy alliance with the Assumption family.

In 1963, upon the death of her husband Edward, Leona was left with a young family to raise. With fierce independence and a sense of resolve, trademarks of her long life, she embraced the role of single parent. In particular, Leona never lost sight of her commitment to the education of her three boys and two girls, an achievement from which she derived great pride when the job was done. Self-sacrifice and hard work were the hallmarks of her life and, in many ways, Leona was well ahead of her time in other lifestyle choices. Long before the 100-Mile Diet she fostered her good health with locally grown produce. A child of the Depression, she managed to live exceptionally well within her means, admonishing those who spent what they didn't have. And she handled all of this with witty observations of her family's escapades. During those many years as the family matriarch, Leona also personified the role of traditional grandmother. She knit in winter, picked berries in summer, preserved in the fall, and baked all year round, all to ensure that the larder was full for her growing family. She made special occasions just that and never shirked from the day-to-day responsibilities of life. Through this and so much more, she continually exhibited her capacity to get the job done. In fact, a Windsor Star photographer once captured her in an inspirational pose shovelling her Partington Avenue driveway when she was well into her eighties. She expected no less of herself.

Leona's legacy goes on to include 13 grandchildren, Mary, Susan, Patricia, Edward, David, Johanna, Beth, Sean, Reilly, Karen, Maxwell, Luke, and Hannah; nine great-grandchildren, Adeline, Katherine, Rachel, Thomas, David, Samantha, Sadie, Kylla, and Tyler; and three great-great-grandchildren, Hunter, Mikaila, and Bobby. She is predeceased and/or survived by dozens of nieces and nephews and their families, is predeceased by her godchild Denise Hickey, and is survived by god-daughters Jo-An Mascarin and Judy Vlossak. Memorial donations can be made to Maryvale Adolescent and Family Services, in Windsor, or the Houses of Providence, in Toronto.

She will be remembered by family and friends at Families First Funeral Home & Tribute Centre, 3260 Dougall Avenue, Windsor, (519-969-5841) on Friday with visitation 5 -9 p.m. On Saturday, family and friends are invited to meet at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, (350 Huron Church Road), for further visiting after 9 am followed by a mass of Christian burial at 9:30 am. Interment Assumption Cemetery.