“The key to everything is patience.
You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.”
Arnold H. Glasow
Estella Elizabeth Leifso was a patient woman. She was patient in planting her gardens, her baking of bread and pies, her canning of bushels of peaches, in raising her children and working alongside her husband on their farm. Stella was also independent (or as some would say – stubborn), strong both physically and emotionally, humourous and had a deep and abiding faith.
Born August 9, 1926 to David and Emma (Clark) Willoughby, on the 12th of Brant, Stella was the youngest of four children; Verna (Gateman), Dr. Clark Willoughby and Jean (Rody). She attended Thalers School, on the 14th concession, often talking about crossing the fields to get to school. Stories were told of how she would accompany her father – the Reeve – to collect taxes. With her parents in poor health, Stella chose to quit school after grade 8 and help on the farm.
Stella first saw her soon to be husband at her neighbours place (Allan’s Uncle Louie). Allan Leifso and Stella were married Friday, April 20, 1949. In fairly quick succession six children were born to them; Wayne (who died at the age of four from leukemia), Brad, Gary, Sandra, Les and Art. Stella worked hard at everything and anything she did, whether it was raising her family, working a team of horses as a young woman, competing in local fairs, quilting, playing cards or feeding the harvest crews. Stella also enjoyed reading, especially Home and Garden articles and doing crossword and jig saw puzzles – often staying up well into the night to complete them.
If Stella was well known for her fair ribbons, she was even better known as “the Egg Lady”. For decades, Stella sold anywhere from 22 to 40 dozen eggs per week. Yes, Stella worked hard but she also played hard. Barn dances, crokinole games, dressing up for Halloween, a trip out west, and participating in wedding shiveries, to name just a few. Stella is admired for her many fine characteristics, especially her sense of humour and enjoyment of pranks.
Even though Stella loved to go barefoot in the garden, her favourite place was likely the front porch. Lovely stories are told of Stella and Allan and their black Labrador dog “Smokey.” One would almost think their dog was human, the way he guarded both of them and mourned their absence.
Estella was reunited with her beloved Allan and Wayne when she passed away at Parkview Manor, Chesley on Monday, February 22, 2016 in her 90th year.
Loving mother of Bradley (Barb), Gary (Peggy), Sandra (Pierre) Guay, Leslie (Susan) and Arthur. Estella will live on in the hearts and minds of her grandchildren, Stephanie (Darryl), Ashley (James), Katie, Nicholas, Monique (Max), Bob (Robin), Brady (Nadine) and Paige and great-grandmother of Chantal, Austin, Dante, Nolan, Madisyn, Owen and Emmett. She will be missed by her sisters-in-law Peggy Leifso and Alice Dempsey. Estella was predeceased by her husband Allan, son Wayne, siblings Verna Gateman, Dr. Clark Willoughby, Jean Rody and her parents, David and Emma (Clark) Willoughby.
Visitation will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Elmwood on Friday, February 26, 2016 from 1 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 2 p.m. Spring interment in Chesley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Elmwood or the Chesley Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
