Leslie Hearsey August 28, 1933 - December 20, 2024

The family of Leslie Thomas Hearsey are saddened to announce his passing on December 20, 2024 following a brief illness.

Leslie was born in Osaquan, Ontario on August 28, 1933 to Harold Leslie and Mabel Grace (Storey) Hearsey. Leslie grew up in Osaquan/Ignace living his entire life in the community until needing to be closer to family and services took him to Dryden in 2023.

Les started working at the young age of 14 at the Fairway Store. He worked in grocery retail over 30 years including being Store Manager when it became Harley’s Supermarket. He also worked and retired from the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

Les purchased the property next to his parents on Pine Street and built his own home completed in time to marry Janet Gascon in November 1959. They welcomed their son Brian in October 1960 and daughter Joanne in June 1965.

Les loved the outdoors. His favourite times were on Flatrock with family and making lifelong friends with those enjoying the lake. He loved fishing Little Raleigh and would work all day and still head to the lake for the evening knowing the trail by memory to get home after dark. Dad loved car trips whether family trips west or to Texas to visit his sister Joy and family. He enjoyed packing lunches for driving the Great Lakes roads north to see wildlife and scenery. The trip he loved most was Hawaii with Janet and always wanted to go back. In later years he found every casino in a radius from home when travel was limited by Janet’s medical challenges. They enjoyed 61 years together and he missed her every day after her passing in 2020.

Les was quiet, reserved, extremely loyal and supportive to those he loved. He never said much or hugged much but you never doubted his caring and love. He will be dearly missed by his daughter Joanne (Donald), grandson Andrew (Kyla) & granddaughter Danika. As the last surviving of his siblings, he cherished many nieces and nephews and in-laws as well as friends too many to name over his 91 years. He was predeceased by his parents, siblings Irene, Joe, Archie, Billy, Joyce and Ron, wife Janet, son Brian and many family & friends which he said was the worst part of getting old.

A huge thank you to Dr. Barrie and all the staff at Dryden Regional Health Centre.