Obituary for Rowena Glenna Reynolds (Leonard)
If you felt a sudden whoosh and a light dimming in the world during the early hours of Easter Monday, you were not mistaken. In her 93rd year, after a very short and precipitous decline, Rowena Reynolds left us for the great beyond. She was the beloved wife of 69 years, 8 months, and 23 days (not that they were counting) of Erwood Reynolds, now resident of Providence Manor. Precious, perfect mother of Wendy and Sean (who called her ‘RM’, his ‘real mother’ because that’s what she was). Adored grandmother of Micheal and Leslie, Dustin, and Laura. Predeceased by daughter Denise, and brothers Lloyd (Keitha), Keith (Gwen), and Claude (Georgia). Survived by sister-in-law (but truly a sister) Jean Clair and her wonderful brother-in-law Mel Martin. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews who looked upon Aunt Rowena as a mentor and a role model for a life well lived.
Born on August 27, 1929, on the family farm, Rowena was the miracle daughter of Nettie Jane Wallace and LeRoy Peck Leonard, almost twenty years younger than her closest brother in age. Throughout her life, Rowena claimed she caused the 1929 stock market crash. But let’s not blame her for that. She grew up with—it’s true—a pet groundhog and a lifelong love of animals, especially cats and dogs, most recently Tuxedo and Mouse and grand dog Boone.
Erwood and Rowena met in Buzztown (aka Verona), a place Rowena’s mother had forbidden her to hang out because it was too wild. Luckily, Rowena did not heed her mother’s warnings for one summery Friday night in 1951, she and a friend were parading the Buzztown streets, as only glamourous and spunky young women can do, when Erwood drove by in his car and whistled at her. One thing led to another, and they were married in July 1952, forming a formidable team. Wendy came along soon thereafter, and the family was complete until the adoption of Denise almost 20 years later. Caregiving was a part of their married life from the get go, caring for both Nettie and LeRoy in the family home until their respective deaths.
At her mother’s insistence, after high school Rowena attended ‘normal school’ in Peterborough to attain her teaching certificate. Despite claiming at the time that she really didn’t like children, she went on to an outstanding career as an elementary school teacher. And, boy, did she love kids and kids loved her. Her teaching career began in a one room school in Wilmerdale where some of those kids were as old as she was and definitely bigger than she was at 5 feet 1 inch and 100 pounds. She ended her career as the most esteemed teacher in another one room private school in Camden East, sponsored by the Harrowsmith/Equinox magazine crew. She says this was the best teaching experience of her career. In between, she taught in rural Frontenac County, in two or three schools in Kingston, was a consultant in the Lennox and Addington Board of Education, and was a teaching principal when she retired from the public school system, having won many teaching awards and accolades. Rowena’s impact on the lives of her students and their parents is renowned, as is the inspiration she provided to others to become educators, too.
Throughout her lifetime, Rowena was an active member of the United Church of Canada community, driven not only by a strong spiritual belief but also by the desire to serve others and be active in that service—as a Sunday School teacher, a choir leader, a pianist for Sunday services (as recently as few months ago), a leading member of the UCW. Whether in Hartington, Napanee, her beloved Matawatchan, or in Kingston at the Zion United Church, she was an integral part of the congregation wherever she went.
Rowena was committed to community service in all its aspects. She and Erwood were dedicated members of the Lions Club and upon Rowena’s retirement, when they moved to the Griffith/Matawatchan area, they took that commitment with them and instigated the formation of the local club, which continues to thrive to this day. They enjoyed the comradeship, the travels, but most of all the benefits the Club could provide to the community.
And then, on top of all this, Rowena raised her three grandchildren. In particular, at the age of 70, she took on the responsibility of raising Dustin, and was devoted to his care from his infancy, throughout his trials with leukemia and other challenges, until his late teens. Intensely proud of all her grandchildren’s achievements, especially Micheal’s, she never gave up on encouraging Dustin to achieve. And he has.
Rowena touched the lives of so many. Through her generosity of spirit, her genuine love of people, her charm, and her incredible sense of humour (and that laugh!), she has an enviably wide circle of friends, all of whom adored her and believe it was an honour to have known her. We will make a special shout out to the community of friends in Matawatchan, where she was extremely happy to live in her retirement, but this should in no way diminish the love she had for friends from everywhere throughout her life, who will deeply miss her phone calls to sing Happy Birthday, her preparation of Nuts and Bolts at Christmas, and her delivery of muffins and cookies throughout the year. The Muffin Queen of Matawatchan!
Rowena did everything with gusto and determination. Through everything, she was the consummate entertainer, playing piano at every opportunity, especially with her band in Matawatchan. She plugged on with spirit and bravery through everything life threw at her, including the very tough last two months. We called her the ‘mighty mite’ because, despite her increasingly diminutive size, there was no one with a larger heart, spirit, or zest for life. And her brain never stopped ticking over To Do lists, right up until her last breaths. Whether you knew her for five minutes or five decades, you knew you were in the presence of someone extraordinarily special.
It seems selfish to say, but we wanted more time. Even though she had been with us for almost 93 years, it wasn’t enough. Our hearts have a hole blown straight through them. She was the best wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who ever walked the earth.
Cremation has taken place. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Zohr Family Funeral Home, Renfrew.
A Celebration of Life, in both Kingston and Matawatchan, will be held at the end of May. Details to follow.
Donations in memory of Rowena may be made to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario or to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society (or your local Humane Society).
Born on August 27, 1929, on the family farm, Rowena was the miracle daughter of Nettie Jane Wallace and LeRoy Peck Leonard, almost twenty years younger than her closest brother in age. Throughout her life, Rowena claimed she caused the 1929 stock market crash. But let’s not blame her for that. She grew up with—it’s true—a pet groundhog and a lifelong love of animals, especially cats and dogs, most recently Tuxedo and Mouse and grand dog Boone.
Erwood and Rowena met in Buzztown (aka Verona), a place Rowena’s mother had forbidden her to hang out because it was too wild. Luckily, Rowena did not heed her mother’s warnings for one summery Friday night in 1951, she and a friend were parading the Buzztown streets, as only glamourous and spunky young women can do, when Erwood drove by in his car and whistled at her. One thing led to another, and they were married in July 1952, forming a formidable team. Wendy came along soon thereafter, and the family was complete until the adoption of Denise almost 20 years later. Caregiving was a part of their married life from the get go, caring for both Nettie and LeRoy in the family home until their respective deaths.
At her mother’s insistence, after high school Rowena attended ‘normal school’ in Peterborough to attain her teaching certificate. Despite claiming at the time that she really didn’t like children, she went on to an outstanding career as an elementary school teacher. And, boy, did she love kids and kids loved her. Her teaching career began in a one room school in Wilmerdale where some of those kids were as old as she was and definitely bigger than she was at 5 feet 1 inch and 100 pounds. She ended her career as the most esteemed teacher in another one room private school in Camden East, sponsored by the Harrowsmith/Equinox magazine crew. She says this was the best teaching experience of her career. In between, she taught in rural Frontenac County, in two or three schools in Kingston, was a consultant in the Lennox and Addington Board of Education, and was a teaching principal when she retired from the public school system, having won many teaching awards and accolades. Rowena’s impact on the lives of her students and their parents is renowned, as is the inspiration she provided to others to become educators, too.
Throughout her lifetime, Rowena was an active member of the United Church of Canada community, driven not only by a strong spiritual belief but also by the desire to serve others and be active in that service—as a Sunday School teacher, a choir leader, a pianist for Sunday services (as recently as few months ago), a leading member of the UCW. Whether in Hartington, Napanee, her beloved Matawatchan, or in Kingston at the Zion United Church, she was an integral part of the congregation wherever she went.
Rowena was committed to community service in all its aspects. She and Erwood were dedicated members of the Lions Club and upon Rowena’s retirement, when they moved to the Griffith/Matawatchan area, they took that commitment with them and instigated the formation of the local club, which continues to thrive to this day. They enjoyed the comradeship, the travels, but most of all the benefits the Club could provide to the community.
And then, on top of all this, Rowena raised her three grandchildren. In particular, at the age of 70, she took on the responsibility of raising Dustin, and was devoted to his care from his infancy, throughout his trials with leukemia and other challenges, until his late teens. Intensely proud of all her grandchildren’s achievements, especially Micheal’s, she never gave up on encouraging Dustin to achieve. And he has.
Rowena touched the lives of so many. Through her generosity of spirit, her genuine love of people, her charm, and her incredible sense of humour (and that laugh!), she has an enviably wide circle of friends, all of whom adored her and believe it was an honour to have known her. We will make a special shout out to the community of friends in Matawatchan, where she was extremely happy to live in her retirement, but this should in no way diminish the love she had for friends from everywhere throughout her life, who will deeply miss her phone calls to sing Happy Birthday, her preparation of Nuts and Bolts at Christmas, and her delivery of muffins and cookies throughout the year. The Muffin Queen of Matawatchan!
Rowena did everything with gusto and determination. Through everything, she was the consummate entertainer, playing piano at every opportunity, especially with her band in Matawatchan. She plugged on with spirit and bravery through everything life threw at her, including the very tough last two months. We called her the ‘mighty mite’ because, despite her increasingly diminutive size, there was no one with a larger heart, spirit, or zest for life. And her brain never stopped ticking over To Do lists, right up until her last breaths. Whether you knew her for five minutes or five decades, you knew you were in the presence of someone extraordinarily special.
It seems selfish to say, but we wanted more time. Even though she had been with us for almost 93 years, it wasn’t enough. Our hearts have a hole blown straight through them. She was the best wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who ever walked the earth.
Cremation has taken place. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Zohr Family Funeral Home, Renfrew.
A Celebration of Life, in both Kingston and Matawatchan, will be held at the end of May. Details to follow.
Donations in memory of Rowena may be made to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario or to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society (or your local Humane Society).