Leona Jessie Northrup of Peter St., Sussex, passed away at Sussex Health Centre on January 2, 2006 at the age of 87. Born in Wards Creek on December 28, 1918, Leona was the daughter of the late Roy and Isabella (Burnett) Stableford and the beloved wife of the late Clifford Northrup who passed away in 1980. Leona is survived by her sons, Brian of Victoria, BC and Bruce and his wife Kim of Sussex, her sister, Minnie Polden and her husband Stan of St. Ives, Australia, four grandchildren, Christopher, Dustin, Bradley and Jessica, as well as several nieces and nephews. Leona will also be greatly missed by her special friend, Velma Earle of Sussex and was predeceased by her sister, Helen Orchard. To know Leona Jessie Stableford-Northrup is to appreciate the era in which she lived. Leona was born at the end of WWI in Wards Creek, growing up in the Sussex Armories and Nelson Street. During WWII, Leona said; she danced with every soldier that passed through Camp Sussex but only selected her man once the war was over which was Regimental Sergeant Major Clifford Northrup on his return from Europe. Although, Cliff was the army RSM, there was little doubt that mother was the true Commanding Officer in the Northrup family. She was stubborn, feisty and was certainly a rather dominant figure in her family's lives. Moms are special and our mother was no exception; she was fiercely protective of us all and offered an unconditional love that we didn't always deserve. Her complaint with Cliff, Brian and Bruce was that they were too easy-going and willing to accept whatever came their way without hesitation, while she in turn refused to accept mediocrity or compromise of any sort. With Leona things were always black or white, there were no shades of gray. There was never any doubt where she stood on an issue and you could only hope you shared her opinion. Leona was quick to draw conclusions and was usually accurate; however, she would only admit she made a mistake when there was no escaping it. After Cliff's death, Leona became an active, independent lady. She retired from the School Board # 18 as Secretary. She was a member of St. Paul's United Church Congregation, the Royal Canadian Legion Sussex Branch # 20 Ladies Auxiliary, the Wednesday Afternoon Seniors Bowling League, the Senior Citizens of Sussex and a former member of the L.O.B.A for 60 years. She loved her family dearly and she loved and appreciated her friends as well. Her extended family included the St. Paul's United Church congregation, the 8th Canadian Hussars Regiment and any card, bingo or bowling game in town, she also deemed herself an honorary member of the Earle family, who over the years have been so kind and thoughtful to her. She was most appreciative of the kindness shown by all of you in the past few years through thought or deed as she found her independence more and more threatened by her medical liabilities. She hated to slow down and found the necessity particularly frustrating towards the end. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. We will miss her. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176). Visitation will be held from St. Paul's United Church, Main Street, Sussex on Wednesday from 7-9 pm and Thursday 2-4 and 7-9pm. The Royal Canadian Legion Sussex Branch # 20 Ladies Auxiliary will hold a tribute Thursday evening at 6:45 pm. The Funeral Service will be held from St. Paul's United Church on Friday, January 6, 2006 at 2:00 pm. Interment will take place at Kirk Hill Cemetery in the spring.