Avis de décès

Mr. Thomas Leonard

Sherbrooke, May 14, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas W. Leonard, who left us peacefully earlier this month. Thomas was a devoted and loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and a steadfast friend to many. While we feel his loss profoundly, we are grateful for all that he brought to our lives over the course of his long life.

Thomas was born in Bury Quebec to anglophone parents of Irish descent. He left home at a  young age to pursue his studies, earning an arts degree from the University of Ottawa, and then a law degree from the Université de Montreal. After completing his studies, he returned to his beloved Townships to start a family with his sweetheart Louise and to begin his career as a notary. This was a busy time as Thomas and Louise established a large family and both were juggling their respective careers, but Thomas couldn’t have imagined a happier life.

Many will remember Thomas for being immensely proud of his Irish heritage. His annual St. Patrick’s day party was often the front-page story in The Sherbrooke Record and La Tribune, and on a slow news night it would be a feature on the 6:00 news. Thomas welcomed anyone and everyone to join him at this cherished event, and saw it as an opportunity to celebrate life and Ireland with friends, family and strangers alike. Thomas’ pride in his Irish ancestry would eventually be shared by his children, although their father’s enthusiasm for all things Irish was sometimes a source of angst due to his insistence on wearing his bright green tam o’shanter hat to their school and sports activities.

Thomas loved to learn. He would often say to his children that, “The day that you cease to learn is the day that you cease to live”. With this as his mantra, he became flawlessly bilingual and a master of French grammar, learned Latin when it had fallen out of fashion and learned Spanish in his fifties. Not surprisingly, Thomas fed his endless curiosity by being a voracious reader, and publications like Le Devoir and Consumer Reports were among his favorites. He also acquired much of his knowledge by being a good listener and was genuinely interested in what others had to say, regardless of their station in life. He would happily discuss a wide range of topics that included classical music, politics, religion, farming and more.

While Thomas was a man of many interests, he was at his happiest living a simple life. Nothing gave him more pleasure than spending quiet days at his cottage, with his family. His days were generally spent walking through the woods in contemplation, reading and feeding his soul with the sounds of opera and other classical music that filled his home.

Thomas lived in a seniors residence in his final years. He never complained and gave his family peace of mind by living every day with a smile on his face (often, a mischievous smile). As a man of deep faith, he would end most family visit by saying, “Don’t forget to say your prayers”. His family will not forget.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Thomas’ seniors residence, with a special thank you to Khalid for always treating Mr. Leonard with warmth and dignity.

The family will welcome you at the Steve Elkas Funeral Complex (4230 Bertrand-Fabi, Sherbrooke, Quebec), on Sunday May 18, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., followed at 11:00 a.m. by a funeral service in the chapel of the complex. The burial will take place privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Parish of St-Patrick (20 Gordon, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 4Y5) or to La maison de la famille de Sherbrooke (72 Victoria, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 3H7) or to a charity of your choice supporting children and youth.