Obituary of Ossi Ilmari Leivonen

Ossi Ilmari Leivonen, 89, of St.Catharines passed away on February 18th, 2020 after a difficult battle with cancer.

Ossi was born on August 15, 1930 to Kalle Einar Leivonen and Olga Jyskä in Jyväskylä, Finland. After moving to Toronto, Canada in 1951, Ossi started working in a foundry and later became his own boss owning Cobblestones Gift Store in Baldwin, Ontario and Christel Art Gallery in Scarborough, Ontario.

At a Finnish dance in 1952, he met Helen Eileen Gustafson, and was smitten. They were wed on October 23rd 1953, going on to have his cherished daughters, Kristine and Carol. After retiring in 1989, Ossi and Helen moved to St. Catharines, Ontario. Ossi spent his time woodworking, building, fishing, and travelling the world with his beloved wife and best friend Helen.

Ossi will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 66 years Helen and his daughters Kristine (Rick) Broughton and Carol (Stephen) Fok. Ossi will also be fondly remembered by his three precious grandchildren Kirsten (Nick) Twardawsky, Eliisa Leivonen- Fok and Davin Leivonen- Fok and great grandchildren Erik, Annika and Rebekah Twardawsky. Ossi will be deeply missed by his dear sister Sisko (Seppo) Sievänen and his nieces Annita (Jorma) Haaman and Heli (Heikki) Juhola and their children. Ossi was predeceased by his brothers Pentti, Eero, Timo, Pekka and Esa and sisters Pirkko, Eerolla, and Elvi.

A celebration of Ossi’s amazing life will be held at St. Catharines Place Retirement Home, 113 Scott Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Sunday March 1st, 2020 from 1 to 3pm. As a lover of all animals, memorial donations in memory of Ossi can be made to the Lincoln County Humane Society, 160 Fourth Ave, St. Catharines, ON L2S 0B6. These donations may be made online via the Donations tab on his home page.

Please share your memories, photos and sentiments of his life here at his memorial web page.

Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.

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