Leslie Janet Nicholls-figure skater, professional card player, voracious reader, self-described "world's-best driver," sentimentalist, and everyday humourist-died on Thursday, September 24, 2015.
Leslie watched the world closely, offering witty observations with a wry smile. She inherited her thoughtful nature and clever sense of humour from her parents Bill and Pauline. She always said that her mother and father were the best parents a person could have, which is exactly how her daughters Kathleen and Valerie will remember her.
Leslie's childhood was full of love, support and meticulously planned family road trips sitting beside her sister Laurie, with impromptu geographical quizzes along the way. As a girl, Leslie's best friend was her mother's sister Auntie Fran, who lived with the family. Fran was an occupational therapist and an artist who inspired Leslie's curious nature through many creative projects and adventures.
In between attending school at Isabella, Kingsway, Fort William Collegiate and Lakehead University, Leslie spent the summers of her childhood, youth and adulthood at the well-loved and lived-in family camp at Loon Lake, first proudly purchased by her grandmother. For Leslie, it was always full of family and friends, very serious card games, proper badminton tournaments, sailing and favourite foods. On Loon Lake, Leslie often displayed her unique ability to water ski without getting wet, taking off from the dock and gracefully gliding to the shore for a sauna (which she also excelled at making particularly hot).
Leslie loved figure skating. As a child and teenager she skated at the Fort William Figure Skating Club and earned her gold tests in free skate, ice dance and figures. Later she coached at both the Manitouwadge Figure Skating Club and Fort William Figure Skating Club. Leslie's prized student was her daughter Valerie, a gifted figure skater and provincial champion. She sewed many skating outfits and sought the best coaches for Valerie while "unofficially" and sometimes unwelcomely coaching her from the stands.
Leslie attended the Canadian Championships, Skate Canada and World Championships throughout her life, most recently in London, Ontario in 2013 with Valerie and Laurie.
She worked for the Third Small Claims Court and the Ministry of the Attorney General for some 30 years. Leslie was endlessly empathetic, thought mostly of others and considered herself a true public servant. Uncommonly, she was a Sheriff's Officer who provided hugs and received flowers in return. On the long drives she regularly made for work around Northern Ontario, she often plotted out piano arrangements that she would later play by ear.
Her empathy and understanding permeated her whole life. She was a loving daughter who cared for her parents in their older years, making and bringing them dinner each night while also raising her daughters on her own. She encouraged Kathleen and Valerie in all of their interests, attending not only figure skating competitions, but basketball games, art exhibitions and university graduations. She was a supporter of many animal welfare organizations, and always had a dog or a cat at home. Her cat Boris will miss his nightly treat of yoghurt and mandarin orange segments.
We will remember Leslie most as a gifted storyteller who intuitively knew how to pull you into one of her everyday tales. Predeceased by her beloved parents William Arthur Nealin and Pauline Elizabeth (Krupper) Nealin, Leslie will be forever loved and missed by her daughter Kathleen Frances Nicholls and partner Hanna Wolff, her daughter Valerie Anne Nicholls and partner Cameron Shaw, and her sister Laurie Louise Nealin.
Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of Leslie's life on Friday, October 2, 2015 in the Kaministiqua Room at the NorWester Hotel (2080 Highway 61) starting at 4:30 p.m. Remarks will begin at 5:30. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the charity of your choice.
Leslie Nicholls will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 12, 2016.
