December 16, 1929 - May 10, 2013
Beloved mother, nana and great-grandmother, Leora Richardsen, age 83, passed away peacefully on Friday May 10, 2013 at Stanford Place, in Parksville, B.C. She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Warde; children Monti (Wendy), Marnie (Mark), Dean (Beth), Moneca (Mark), Judy (Barry); 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
The youngest of four children, she was born on December 16, 1929 in Woodford Halse nr Rugby, England to William and Ethel Coles. In her early childhood, her family moved to Ipswich, Suffolk where Leora attended the Bolton School for girls prior to obtaining her first job as an accounting clerk in the midst of World War II England. It was during this time, on September 17, 1947 that she met the love of her life and the man she would marry at a local air force dance. Leora and Warde were married on October 30, 1948. Devoted to their faith, they were married again for time and eternity at the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City on September 14, 1959.
Moving to Canada in 1956, they called North Vancouver home for 32 years until retirement brought them to Vancouver Island in 1988. She embraced all of the opportunities that their new country provided. She worked in the insurance industry, starting at the BC Life & Casualty Company and then finished her career at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.
Leora was a passionate gardener and was happiest at her home in Coombs, where she could tend to her garden and her animals while Warde was in his workshop creating his masterpieces.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00P.M. on May 25th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 591 Arbutus, Qualicum Beach.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Glenview staff at Stanford Place for their compassion, respect and understanding.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Canadian Lung Association.
“Children are the only form of immortality that we can be sure of.”- Peter Ustinov