Leila Joan (Lowery) Hale

Leila Joan Hale  December 25, 1933 to June 16, 2021

Leila Hale exhaled her final breath on June 16th with Doug by her side.  Born to the late Angus and Dorothy Lowery on December 25th, 1933 in Bancroft, Ontario, Leila attended high school in Colborne before moving to Belleville with her lifelong friend Clara (Curly) Metcalf to become “Bell girls” (Bell telephone operators).

Leila met the love of her life, Doug Hale, in 1952 and they married on September 4, 1954 to begin their 67-year journey together.

Leila was predeceased by her son Jeffrey (Robin), October 24, 2017. She is survived by her husband, Doug, and her other children: Brian (Jayne); Steven (Cathy); Lori (Steve); Lisa; Lynda; Laraine (Gabi); Lesley (Joe); her “adopted” son Paul (Karen); and eighteen grandchildren – Ben, Chris, Zana, Chelsea, Brad, Bryana, Nick, Calvin, Chiara, Bianca, Sam, Luc, Etabez, Deneke, Tyghe, Jacob, Michael and Alex.  And she was “mom” to others beyond her own large family.

‘Leapin’ Leila’ will always be remembered for her hospitality towards anyone who showed up at 84 Purdy Street.  She was always eager to host gatherings for friends and family.  Her anchor was Doug and he spoke often of her deep capacity for caring and her hard work as a full-time mother and then as an employee at ElectroLab.  She grounded her family in rituals: meals at the dinner table with homemade desserts, Sunday picnics followed by the traditional dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, summer cottage vacations, Christmas traditions, family picnics with the extended family, and annual anniversary jaunts. These memories we hold dear, strengthening our foundations of family values.

Leila had an adventurous spirit, ever ready and willing to visit her children at home and abroad, travelling within Canada and to Europe, Japan, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.

Leila will forever live in our hearts. What we once cherished we can never lose. Love leaves memories eternal. 

Funeral arrangements are being finalized through Highland Park Funeral Centre, Peterborough.

Leila will rest peacefully from her niche overlooking the water at Little Lake Cemetery in Peterborough. Doug and family will host a “Celebration of Life” at a later date in Belleville.

Doug and family extend a sincere thank you to the staff of Peterborough Retirement Residence for their kindness and exceptional care and support.  Doug respectfully requests donations be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation in Leila’s memory.

Highland Park is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Hale Graveside Service
Time: Jun 19, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88673036239

Meeting ID: 886 7303 6239
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