This is not a story I experienced but one my late wife, Rosario, told me about. It was Maria Leena’s way of accepting all people, no matter where they lived, how much money they did or did not have, the colour of their skin, or any other superficial characteristics. She manifested that so clearly in the way she (and her family) accepted Rosario, a new immigrant to Canada, into her life and how she welcomed Rosario’s family as her own when they travelled together to Perú. This friendship was a great treasure to Rosario who was very lonely and homesick in a strange country while trying to learn another language and different customs.May God bless Maria-Leena in eternity for her open and kind spirit. Jesus said: “I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me, Now enter into the joy of my Father”.

My condolences to Thomas and to all the family. I'm one of Eurosport's colleagues, from 2000 to 2004 and I was deeply saddened by the news I learned yesterday. I remember Maria-Leeana as a kind, endearing and caring woman, with a permanent smile. May she rest in peace and her memory be a blessing.

Maria, mon amie ,tu vas terriblement me manquer….. une si belle âme, tu étais un exemple d’élégance, de sagesse et de simplicité pour nous tous !

 Que la vie est injuste !!!!

Je te remercie pour notre si belle amitié. Je n’oublierai jamais tous ces jolis moments partagés. 

On a ri,on a pleuré……

J’adorais ta façon de raconter les  histoires ,d’un petit rien tu en faisais quelque chose d’incroyablement romanesque et drôle !

Malgré les 8000 km qui nous séparaient, je me sentais si proche de toi. 

Sache que tu resteras gravé dans mon cœur pour l’éternité. 

Tu as mené cette bataille telle une guerrière dans laquelle tu nous as donné une véritable leçon de vie.

 Maintenant il est venu le temps pour toi de te reposer.

 Et comme tu me disais souvent quoi qu’il arrive on reste connectées !!!!

Toute mon affection à Thomas, Eva, Samuel et ta famille. Andrea 

Maria-leena took me under her wing when she was a sophisticated Parisian and I was what she had so recently been— a Saskatchewan prairie girl with dreams. We met in 1995 when I was welcomed to Vimy Ridge by the Canadians who were tour guides there, invited by my U of Saskatchewan French TA Shauna Simonot. Upon my arrival I was sent to sleep in the spare bed in Maria’s room. I had jet lag and went to bed early, while Maria was still out. When I woke up the next morning she was there brushing her teeth— and her lips, “to exfoliate them,” she informed me. Her next words were “I hear you’re a dancer too. Would you like to go audition with me to dance at the Lido?” We got distracted by other French pleasures like the beach at Le Touquet before we could become music hall stars, but when we got back to Saskatoon we started taking flamenco lessons together and soon Maria’s great vision had us doing gigs— she planned a flamenco night for us at Lydia’s pub where we danced for a big lively crowd to set a festive mood. In university she had a job at the U of Saskatchewan movie theatre in the arts building, and I really envied this job and her capacity for always having a cool job. I was working at Kenny Rogers’ Roasters (chicken restaurant) after U of S grad. I had an English degree and was prepping for grad school. I was miserable in the job and so were the kitchen pros I worked with. Maria sat me down and gave me a sensible talking-to about how I had to quit this job and get one that suited me better, one that made sense for someone with an English degree. I did quit, and I got my first professional writing job thanks to her advice. She also gave me my first taste of Paris, treating me to a facial at Nina Ricci and showing me all over the city. At one Montmartre restaurant we ordered boiled eggs and the owners had no eggs left and had to go to the market to get some for us. We waited a looong time for our eggs but enjoyed the adventure and the friendly women who ran the cafe. One day near the Arc de Triomphe she sat down with a cappuccino while I went inside to explore— so many people visited her in Paris that she had found ways of showing us around with beautiful hospitality while also savoring a moment in a cafe for herself. Maria had such a huge influence on me — she had so much self-respect and wisdom and ability to see the big picture and to savor the joys of life and to set and maintain high standards for herself. She combined her fantasies with common sense and that was such a powerful combination. And above all she was so kind. Love to you, Thomas, Sam, Eva, Michael, Kirsti, Eric and Jennifer. You are such a kind and beautiful family and I thank you for including us in the memorial service today for our beloved Maria. The words spoken consoled me with the thought that Maria lives on in those who loved her and we will live by her example. 

Nos sincères condoléances de la part de la famille Aufragne.

Nous pensons bien fort à vous au cours de cette épreuve.

This story comes from Emma and Eloïse Slater, in memory of our dear Maria. In 2014, our family (Mark, Veronica, Emma, Eloïse, Miah and Mackenna) had the absolute pleasure of staying with Maria and her family in Tombeboeuf. This trip has been a cherished memory in our family ever since.

Eloïse: Maria was gifted in cooking, and it being a passion of mine, I was very interested in shadowing her for the week. She had such a deep knowledge of plants, herbs, vegetables and fruits, that she really opened my eyes to the diversity and value in each ingredient. One day, she told the kids she was going to Jackie and Jackie's farm for a quick visit and to pick up some fresh produce. I jumped at the opportunity to accompany her and even got to sit shotgun in the vintage Citroen! At the farm, she paid close attention to what J&J were working on, and when it was finally time to leave, she loaded us all in the car. Before leaving, she remembered that she had forgotten something, so she ran back into the farmhouse. When she returned, she plopped on my lap and giant plastic bag filled with fresh, warm milk. I have to admit - I wasn't incredibly thrilled, but we certainly had a good laugh about it! Thank you, Maria, for treating me like an adult at such an important time of my life, for making me feel seen and heard, and for making me feel important. I'll never forget the time we spent together in what seemed like the most peaceful and beautiful place on Earth. Maria, I will forever cherish you, your warmth, your bright smile, and your endless kindness. Thomas, Sammy, Eva, thank you for sharing Maria with us, we miss her dearly.

Emma: Like my sister, one of my most cherished memories of Maria takes place in the very special and loving Tombeboeuf. As Eloïse mentioned, Maria's cooking was amazing, and during our stay with their family she cooked a truly astounding feast. While showing me the chicken and the garlic (loads of garlic!) in the dish, Maria asked me about my life and spoke to me as an equal. As a young teenager, this conversation and moment really stuck with me, even to this day. She spoke to me as an adult, as a person with valid and deep thoughts and emotions. Maria, you had such a gift of making people feel heard and special, and I am forever grateful to share this memory with you. Thank you for being such an incredible friend to my Mom, it means more than you know, and it brings me a lot of joy and peace to know you had each other. We will miss you, and we will do your memory justice. Bisous xo

I worked several years with ML at Canada Basketball and she always made the long projects fun and the hard projects light. I can remember one day we were in the lunch room and she had shared with me that she believed that the only way to continue to keep a variety of activities in your life as we grow is to do those activities at least once a year. So she shared that in the winter she always made sure to go tobogganing and in the summer to do a cartwheel. I think about this advice often and apply it. I always thought it was so smart. I can just imagine her now tobogganing and cartwheeling through the clouds. Miss you ML. You inspire all of us. My deepest sympathy to her family. She always spoke about all of you with so much love and pride. 

My heartfelt condolence for the loss of your loved one. May you get through this difficult time, through prayers and the comfort of friends and other family members.

Ah Maria .....Pauline me parlait tant de toi , ta belle personne, ton courage,  ton écoute  des autres .

Je pense que tu aurais aimé que l'on ne soit pas triste mais c'est dur. Notre cœur est meurtri.

Pascal et Pauline and the kids ,  family  Jadas / Bonsens  

I had the absolute pleasure meeting Maria-Leena when she first attended yoga at damask studios. From being a student with her to teaching classes she attended I always looked forward to seeing her, that smile that was always present and her beautiful aura that made you feel seen, supported and empowered. I will always remember her for this, she will be dearly missed but never forgotten. People like this always make an impact in the world! ❤️

Maria-Leena was a high school classmate. She danced beautifully and had such amazing grace. She was a very generous host to my Mom and Dad when they visited Paris many years ago. I always admired her spirit and laugh and ability to brighten a room. Our thoughts are with Eva, Sam, Thomas, family and friends during this time of remembrance. 

A toi Maria qui a inspiré nos vies par ta lumière,  ton courage, ta  générosité de coeur et ta joie. Que tu sois accueillie pour la suite de ton voyage par des immenses bras de lumière et que tu puisses continuer à nous inspirer et nous guider depuis les Cieux. Croiser ton chemin a été un honneur et une grâce. Que ta famille soit entourée d'amour et de douceur. 

Tree huggers! This says it all about Maria and her ability to find joy in the simplest of things - in this case a beautiful big old tree in the French countryside. I'm going to miss our long-distance chats so much Maria, you have been a soul mate. I'm so happy to have been able to spend time together last year and in 2021. You are forever in my heart. Sending loads of love to Thomas, Sam, Eva, and all of Maria's family and friends. — with Maria Leena and Annie Kennedy

Heartfelt condolences to Maria-Leena's family. I got to know Maria-Leena over the past couple of years through Gilda's Toronto. What a remarkable woman. She will be missed. Elana Shapiro, Manager, Development Gilda's Toronto.

Today is the day we are supposed to say goodbye. I don’t know how. 40+ years of memories.

Lessons I learned from you:

Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself

Pedicures are good for the soul

A raised eyebrow conveys more than words

Take time to enjoy food (especially picnics)

Look for the positive

Revel in life’s small pleasures

There is always time to dance

Love you forever💞

Sincerest condolences to Thomas, Samuel, Eva, Michael, Kirsti and family