1 October, 1954 – 13 April, 2021
14 April, 2021
Passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home and surrounded by his family on April 13, 2021 at the age of 66 years. Beloved husband of Jean Stewart (nee Morris). Loving father of Kennard Stewart (Donna) and grandfather of Mikaela and Nothando. Cherished son of Alfred Stewart and the late Beryl Sterling. Survived by his siblings Monique Channer (Anthony), Margaret Markland, Chester Sterling (Francis) and Tony Stewart (Lisa). Predeceased by his brother Danny Daley and sister, Marilyn Christie. Leon will be fondly remembered by his many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends in Canada, the U.S.A, the UK and in Jamaica.
Friends may pay respects at the Kelly Funeral Home-Carling Chapel, 2313 Carling Ave., on Friday, April 23rd from 11a.m. to 6:30 p.m. A funeral to celebrate Leon’s life will be held at the Ottawa Church of God, 1820 Carling Ave. on Saturday, April 24th at 10a.m. Interment Capital Memorial Gardens.
*Pursuant to maximum attendance regulations, please call the funeral home to pre-register your attendance at the visitation. Entry will be strictly limited to registered visitors only. Attendees will be required to wear face masks, and asked to respect and practice social distancing.*
For those unable to attend the funeral service in person, a livestream broadcast of the funeral will be available at: www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/12457
The graveside service will also be livestream broadcast on Saturday, April 24th at 12:30 p.m. at: www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/12459
In memoriam, donations to The Ottawa Church of God, Ottawa would be appreciated.
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Eulogy
My name is Kennard Stewart and I want to thank you all for being a part of my father’s home going celebration. It feels like forever since I’ve needed to be behind a podium but being the only child, it’s only fitting I that come out of retirement to share the memories of the man who touched each of our lives in so many ways.
Leon Alexander Stewart was born October 1, 1954 to Beryl Sterling and Alfred Stewart (Pops) in the Moy Hall district of Reading, St. James, Jamaica. Brother to Margaret, Marilyn, Monique, Danny, Chester, Tony; Uncle to 11; Husband to Jean; Father to myself and grandfather to 2. He attended the Tower Hill Primary School and then moved on to Montego Bay Secondary. After leaving Secondary school at the age 19, he started working as a bookkeeper with Dadlani Hindu Bazaar. I guess this is where his passion for working with numbers began.
Dad impacted so many lives even as a young adult, that in the words of his cousins, he was one of a kind when it came to showing his love for his family both immediate and extended. Every Monday around 4 to 5pm, his cousins would sit by the roadside outside their home waiting to see their neighborhood Santa. Dad would always visit with his special gift, rice and bullybeef (otherwise referred to as Bullybaf by him). This was dad’s favourite meal growing up and because he loved to share, he convinced his cousins to take part in the tradition and also make it their favourite Monday Special dinner. Now I understand why I love bullybeef and rice to this day lol.
WHAT YEAR DID HE MEET MOM? – 1976
As the years went by, dad gained experience and knowledge to get going in life, but he knew something was missing to make it complete. So, in walks this charismatic, life of the party, all smiles woman. This woman with her long flowing hair and green dress (which he would always speak of lol) came seeking employment and he instantly became infatuated. Now my mother must have succumbed to my dad’s charming ways because here I am today LOL.
Dad reconnected with his pops in the 1980’s, who was by now married and living in Canada. My father really embraced this reunion, and the pair formed a forever lasting bond. He was then introduced to his sister Monique during this time and once again, continued to prove he was a family first kind of guy! Pops brought Dad to Canada in 1990, where he would continue his legacy of building friendships, solidifying family bonds and touching the lives of everyone he met along the way.
Dad returned to Jamaica in 1991 to marry the woman of his dreams, my mother!! I remember telling them after they got married, that if I knew they weren’t married before they had me I would have run away. Within 2 years, mom and I joined him in Canada to begin our new lives together. Dad was blessed with the time and opportunity to get to know his baby sister, Monique. He impressed her with his culinary skills, dancing skills and ability to grow friendships…must be a
Stewart trait LOL. They spent years together, cultivating a closeness that more than made up for the years growing up apart. He did not get the opportunity to meet his younger brother, Tony, in the UK, as distance and lack of opportunity kept them apart. It did not stop dad from connecting with Tony and maintaining that family bond, which is a blessing for him. I will never forget the week after we arrived, mom was walking me to school one day and we experienced our first taste of snow and freezing rain. Mom and I came home crying, telling dad that we want to go back to Jamaica LOL.
Dad worked for Zellers for over 20 years proving himself loyal to his employers and colleagues. Always smiling and singing on the job and was well loved and respected by his co-workers. I remember going to see him after school and always hearing them speak so highly of him.
We cannot forget his passion and love for sports back in Jamaica, football (soccer) and most of all cricket. Before moving here, he would ensure that he was at every football match his favourite team Seba United was playing. Dad was also an enthusiastic and fierce cricket player in his youth and that surely did not stop when he moved to Canada. He was a longtime member of both the Canterbury Cricket Club and Belair Cricket Cub, where he built friendships and forever brotherly bonds with so many. I recall almost every weekend mom and I would go to watch our favourite spin bowler attempt to be the match hero. He would always say, “man dem boi yah cyaan hangle me”. Translation “These boys cannot handle my bowling” LOL. I gotta say he wasn’t wrong, because for several games and years, he would win best bowler and MVP.
Dad also became a member and was a faithful servant for over 20 years at the Ottawa Church of God. As the man of his home, he took the lead and led all 3 of us to get baptized in 1996. There were 4 happy occasions in his life where I know dad was most proud of and got emotional. Marrying his queen, having me, watching me get married and getting baptized was definitely one of them. He was also a dedicated volunteer within the community, doing taxes for the church tax clinic. He was much more than just a church member, Men’s ministry leader or a Deacon, he was a friend, a brother, a mentor, a confidant and a father-figure to many. Dad was a man who would always seek to lift up others or help others do better, many times to his own sacrifice. Whether it was his time, his body, his health or his money.
Dad also worked with Primerica after being recruited in 2013. This year in August would have marked his 8-year anniversary with the company. He was very committed to his broker, his clients, his colleagues and to the company. He was a MASTER prospector, who told everyone about his business. Knowing dad, he is probably up there now, try to recruit LOL.
Dad loved my mother, and no one can ever tell me otherwise. Married for 29 years and known each other for 45. Whenever we would facetime and ask what was for dinner, he would always try to step in steals mom thunder, saying he was the one who cooked. Always smiling and laughing together. They were the best of friends and inseparable in so many ways. Whether it was attending a church or social event, having a night out on the town, getting down on the dance floor or even just sitting in front of the tv together. Their love for each other spoke volumes and will forever be an example for me and so many.
When I married my wife Donna, dad always said he gained the daughter he never had. He loved her as if she was his own. She was always the first one he greeted on the phone. I am so grateful that dad was also able to build a special bond with his grandchildren Mikaela and Nothando. He loved them immensely. Even though mom was the one to spoil the girls with gifts, they would always come home from day care and demand to talk to Papa.
You know in my youth; I use to think the relationship I had with my father was not greatest. I felt his time was being spent other places than at home with me. Be home to teach me how shave, how to bake, how to do taxes, to play catch with me, talk to me about dating and sex. As I look back now though, those things were not as important as what I learned from him. What he didn’t know he taught me was, to always be humble, be quick to help, to give without asking for anything in return, that friends and family are like gold (never forget where I came from and who got me here), to be more concerned with my character than my reputation, dance like no one is watching, it is okay to cry and love with my whole heart.
He was a force of nature with a sharp mind. He was committed to his family. He was a man of faith. He taught us the importance of caring. Gone is the smiling face we love so much. Silent is the beautiful voice we love to hear. But in our hearts, you will be always there. I love you so much dad. The legacy you left behind will live on forever. Now take you rest until we meet again.
