Leonora Mary Pauls
September 13th, 1934 ~ March 23rd, 2024
Leonora Mary (Dyck) Pauls
September 13, 1934 – March 23, 2024
Leonora Mary (Dyck) Pauls, aged 89, passed away on March 23, 2024, at the Richmond Hospital in Richmond, BC.
Born in Redfield, Saskatchewan, she was the second oldest of four children of Jacob and Mary (Sawatsky) Dyck and grew up in Yarrow and Vancouver during the Great Depression. Her parents had both a strong work ethic and an unwavering faith in God.
After graduation from high school and attending one year at UBC, Leonora went to MBBC in Winnipeg and completed a Sacred Music Diploma. It was here that she met and married John in 1956, later welcoming John David into their home in 1961 and Sherril Anne in 1967.
Moving to Morden Manitoba, Coaldale Alberta, Hillsboro Kansas, Wichita Kansas, Edmonton Alberta, and Calgary Alberta, gave Leonora many opportunities to teach piano and accompany choirs and soloists. After obtaining her Bachelor of Education and Master of Music Education degrees, she had the opportunity to teach music in her neighbourhood school, Marion Carson Elementary, for 16 years. What gave her great joy was to accompany her husband as he sang and conducted, son John, when he played the violin, and daughter Sherril when she played the cello.
A move to Richmond in 2008 brought her closer to her family and she enjoyed hosting family and friends in her home, singing in the St. John's Vancouver Church choir, and participating in the Fraserview Seniors Club.
She loved her Lord and Savior, serving Him with her music and hospitality throughout her life.
She will be sadly missed and always lovingly remembered by her family. She is survived by her son John David Pauls (Wanda) of San Diego, CA, her daughter Sherril Gardiner (Hal) of San Antonio, TX, her grandchildren Evan Pauls (Danielle) of Madison, AL, Kelly Goldsmith (Paul) of Warsaw, MO, Alexandra Gardiner of Long Beach, CA, Aaron Gardiner of Dallas, TX, Olivia Gardiner of Plano, TX and her great-granddaughter Elsie Goldsmith of Warsaw, MO.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Leonora's life will be held at Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond, BC, on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 1 p.m. A time of fellowship will follow in the church gymnasium. To watch a livestream of the service, please visit the following website at that time: https://www.bfvideoproductions.com
Donations in honor of Leonora's life may be made to the Union Gospel Mission. (https://ugm.ca/)
Messages:
Dear family: John+Lee were very dear friends of our from the first time we met in 1966! Treasure great memories of our many years of friendship. I will miss their phone calls dearly, as they faithfully called me after my dear partner passed away. Sincere condolences during this tough time. Treasure your great memories in you hearts. Much love+prayers. Milly.
Leonora Pauls was in my first graduate class at the University of Calgary. As I worked side by side with her for a year I came to know her well. My favorite recollection is of being invited to her home for dinner one night. After dinner I was treated to a family concert. The whole Paul family sang for me in 4-parrt harmony. It was an experience I have never forgotten. She was a wonderful woman and part of a wonderful family. My sincere sympathy.
Your mom and dad John and Lee were my dear friends. John and I went to AMHS together and enjoyed great comradery when John taught in Coaldale. Lee FaceTimed me from her hospital bedroom a few days before she died. We talked about our cherished friendship before she said good bye. My sympathies go out to your whole family !! Dwell on your cherished memories and God bless and keep you !!!
The celebration of life that the family organized was a wonderful tribute to Lee and John. The entire family was involved and it was obvious that Lee and John were very treasured parents and grandparents. Sherril's eulogy was heartfelt and someone near me whispered," Wow," when she concluded her remarks about how important her mom was in her life. I think everyone in the church felt the same way. I certainly did! John, Wanda and Sherill's final hymn was stellar-such amazing talent. John and Lee would have been thrilled that they had been remembered through music and their powerful faith.