JENSEN, Leora Anna 1935 – 2014

Leora Jensen (1935-2014)

Leora Anna Jensen of Lethbridge, passed away peacefully on April 13th, 2014, at the age of 78 years.

Leora was born on May 15, 1935 in Champion, Alberta to Robert and Anna Maxwell.  She joined her older sister, Audrey.  Leora’s love of Champion started at a young age, as she enjoyed riding her bike around town and all of the adventures that would ensue!

After graduating high school, Leora moved to Calgary for secretary school working for two years to save money for a trip of a lifetime—three months to Europe in the spring of 1958.  She still spoke of this trip often in later years—travelling by herself to New York, taking a ship across to England (while helping a stowaway get off the ship!) and all of the sites she saw once there.  Another treasured memory was visiting Norway with her mother-in-law to reconnect with family roots.

Mom met the love of her life, Roger Jensen after his family moved to Champion from California.  He waited until she was back from Europe and they were married in November 1958.  They had three daughters—Tracy, Nancy and Jennifer.  Roger and Leora participated in the IAEA program and she always said that the boys who came over were the sons they never had! Their family loved the outdoors, whether it was working on the farm, riding horses, camping, or going on road trips to Alaska, California, and Illinois.  They enjoyed attending Lions Club functions and shared a love of sports and animals.

After the loss of Roger in 1980, she remained on the family farm south of Champion.  Leora was blessed with six grandchildren to keep her busy!  She took great joy in each of them, taking them to parks for bike rides, camping, attending school events and being their biggest cheerleader at their sporting events.   Grandma always had a project when the grandkids came over—crafts, collecting bottles, or putting on a play.  Mom was an avid gardener spending autumns preserving cases of fruit or quarts of pickles and homemade jams. Christmas would not have been the same without Grandma’s famous fudge and homemade ice cream. She was very involved in church life and made that a priority for her family.  A deeply spiritual woman who spent many hours in prayer, sharing the Lord with all around her.

In 2005, Leora moved to Lethbridge, Alberta where she met many new friends at West Highlands Estates and thru the “On Our Own” group at the Lethbridge Senior’s Centre. As her mobility decreased, she loved visiting on the phone with her friends as well as keeping up with current events and all her televised sporting events.
In her later years she enjoyed the addition of her three great grandchildren to her growing family.  She adored spending time with them – watching them grow!
Leora was predeceased by her husband, Roger, infant daughter – Jennifer, her parents, mother & father in law – Bill & Velma Jensen, sister & brother in law – Audrey & Ron McGrail and nephew, Michael McGrail.  She is survived by her daughters, Tracy (David) Munro, their children, Pamela (Aaron) Matlock, great granddaughters—Andie and Blayne Matlock, Chad (Katrina) Munro, great grandson Sam Munro, Heather (Travis) Warren; Nancy (Randy) Williams, their children, Justina (Jason) Sherstabetoff, Ryan (Karen) Williams and Michael Williams. She is also survived by her nephew Jeffrey McGrail and niece Robyn Sierchio.

She will be greatly missed by all her friends and family.

Celebration of Life was held Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at 1:30 pm at University Drive Alliance Church (55 Columbia Blvd West, Lethbridge, AB), Pastor David Sarsons officiating. Interment in Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge, has already taken place.

Tributes in Leora’s memory may be made to the Champion Lions Club, Box 179, Champion, AB T0L 0R0.

Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home.  Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.