Leokadia Gilas, aged 94, died on Thursday October 22, 2020 in Elm Grove Living Centre, Toronto. Wife of the late Bronisław (Bruno) Gilas, Mother of Bruno Jr., Tom, Henry (Debra) and Barbara ”Basia”(John). Babcia of Robin, Amber and Kyle. Sister of the late Helen and late Genowefa. Aunt to many nieces and nephews. Leokadia was born in Marianka, Poland, the oldest of three children. She was displaced at the age of fifteen during WWII to Germany for six years where she trained to be a nursing assistant and learned to speak both German and English. She arrived in Canada in 1949 via Halifax and settled in Brockville, Ontario to work at St. Vincent De Paul Hospital. A benevolent acquaintance sponsored her parents to join her and they along with her sister Helen moved to Toronto with the promise of a robust Polish community awaiting them. She met her husband in Toronto and together, while holding their “day jobs,” ran ‘B&L Dry Cleaners’ in Mimico where they began their family. She also worked at The Doctor’s Hospital, now Kensington Gardens, and at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto where she retired early to raise her fourth child. By then “Lodzia” and Bruno had permanently settled in the home, they built themselves, in Etobicoke, where they lived for over 50 years. An expert at crochet and knitting, she spent her last months at Elm Grove Living Centre making hats and scarves and squares for The Covid 19 Memorial Blanket Project. Content, surrounded by her cherished crystal collection and framed family photos, wiggling her toes, she will be missed. Thank you to the wonderful staff at Elm Grove for taking such good care. Interment will be in Park Lawn Cemetery.

Dobranoc, mamo