Kay Leonard
1930 – December 6, 2024
Kay Leonard (nee Collins) passed away peacefully at the Lakeridge Health Centre in Oshawa on Friday, December 6, 2024, at the age of 94. She was the beloved wife of Basil Joseph Leonard, who passed away in September 2023. Together, they shared 72 years of marriage and a remarkable 77 years of companionship.
Kay was a proud mother of four children: Mike (Catherine) Leonard, Patty (Paul) Milinkovich, Kathy (Scott) Siersma, and Brenda (Kent) Guest. She was a devoted grandmother to Jason (Venita) Leonard, Ashley Leonard (Brody), Miranda (Adam) Mantle, Paul Jr. Milinkovich (Cecilia), Tyler (Mallory) Siersma, Ryan (Linnea) Siersma, Brayden (Mel) Siersma, and MacKenzie (Gordie) Sherk. She also cherished her role as a great-grandmother to John Siersma, Sam Siersma, Sofia Leonard, Valmay Wight, Maverick Mantle, and Elsie Kathleen Siersma.
Kay was born in Brechin, Ontario, and met Basil as a teenager at a dance. Their enduring love story spanned decades. In 1951, they settled in Oshawa, where Kay worked at McLaughlin Coal Company before dedicating her life to raising her family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, always tending to the needs of her children and grandchildren with care and love.
Kay had a passion for puzzles, knitting, bingo, and golf. She and Basil enjoyed many happy years together in Oshawa and later in Sonya, where they lived on five acres before retiring to a condo in Oshawa. Basil’s passing in 2023 marked the loss of the love of her life, and their devotion to one another was truly inspiring.
