Passed away at Humber River Hospital, Toronto on Wednesday April 14, 2021 at the age of 84. She was predeceased by husband and best friend Everett “Sam” Lougheed. Daughter of the late Ross and Roy Burness. Much loved mother of Stephen (Anne), Katherine (Alan) and Robert (Lea-Anne). Cherished Grandma of David, Evelyn, Danielle, Amanda and John. Dear sister of Donald (Wendy) and the late Malcolm (Diane). Aunt of Rosemary, Richard, Peter, Carol, Melissa, Andrea, Julie and Jason.
Leslie was born and grew up in Port Hope, along the shores of Lake Ontario. She attended Queen’s University, graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts (Biology). After graduation Leslie moved to Guelph where she met her life partner Everett, and where she was, for a short time, a school-teacher and tutor.
Leslie’s curiosity never waned. People, nature, politics, literature, pets, and world events were of special interest to her. She was deeply engaged with the St. Andrews Presbyterian church community in Guelph, and spent many years as an Elder offering support to other members of the congregation.
Nature provided her with solace and inspiration. She was an early member of the Guelph Field Naturalists (now Guelph Nature), a board member of Kortright Waterfowl Park, and a long-time supporter of Ontario Nature and many other conservation organizations. A passionate bird watcher, Leslie took great delight in the myriad species that visited her bird feeders or migrated through her large, treed urban yard. With justifiable pride she would show off the diverse habitat that she and Sam created on their property. She was an avid gardener and nurtured dozens of indoor plant “babies”, some of which she kept thriving for over 50 years.
Leslie cared deeply about her community, and was distraught with the rampant pace of development and destruction of local biodiversity and habitats. She was an aficionado of music, especially classical, and enjoyed attending live concerts with family and friends. A lover of the English language, she always had several books, magazines, newspapers and crosswords at her side. She was a formidable opponent in Trivial Pursuit or any game involving word play. Her avid interest in local, national and international politics made for lively discussion with family and friends; she was adept at redirecting or sustaining a telephone conversation by bringing up, say, a transgression by an errant politician. Her playful nature always emerged during these exchanges. Her passions and loves live on in her family and the people she touched in her life.
A virtual service will be held at the GILCHRIST CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph, on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Zoom contact: [email protected] or [email protected]. Donations to Woodview Manor 905-689-4727, the Queen’s University Biological Station Land Trust 1-800-267-7837 or the Nature Conservancy of Canada 1-800-465-8005 would be appreciated. We invite you to leave your memories and donations online and they will be forwarded to the family.