Obituary of Leonida Adamtau

ADAMTAU, Leonida "Ema"

Died as she wished, peacefully in her home on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, surrounded by summer blossoms in the garden, with her daughter Sophie Skaith and son-in-law Ian Skaith by her side.  

Born on May 20, 1924 to Lilli and Elmar Paluots in Vaabina, Võrumaa, Estonia, Leonida was caught up in the tumult of the Second World War, fleeing the family farm as the Russians advanced.  While escaping, she met an acquaintance, Elmar Sumberg, and together they made the dangerous journey across Estonia on foot and horseback to the coastline.  There, under the cover of darkness, they embarked in a dinghy and prayed as they were towed by a larger boat to Finland.  Leonida and Elmar hid in the forest with hundreds of others until a ship could be found to transport them to Sweden, where they were married and lived in the town of Jönköping. In the continuing uncertainty following the war, they successfully applied to immigrate to Canada, then sailed from England aboard the Canadian Empress to make their home in Toronto.  From the 1960s through the 1980s, Leonida spent most of her career at Canada Bread and Dempster's.  In 2001 she moved to London to live with her daughter Eha Sophie Skaith and son-in-law Alan Ian Munger Skaith.  She was predeceased by her second husband, Theodor Adamtau (1920-1991) and her first husband, Elmar Sumberg (1913-1997).

Ema, as she became known over the years, will be dearly missed by her family and friends in London, Toronto, and Estonia, including Larry and Elizabeth Hallok and their children Erika and Kristina, who grew up in the house next door in Toronto.  Fernanda as well holds a special place in her heart.

Leonida's abiding approach to life was to listen to your challenges until you figure them out and understand your options.  She was a wise and trusted counsel to many, and believed that one should "never stop learning" as the way to fulfill one's dreams.  

Donations in memory of Leonida may be made to Huron University College, 1349 Western Rd., London, ON N6G 1H3 in support of The Ian and Sophie Skaith Scholarship and Bursary Fund, or online at huronuc.ca/donate or to St Anne's (Byron) Anglican Church, 1344 Commissioners Rd. W., London, ON N6K 1E1.  Visitation will be held at St. Anne's on Saturday, August 5th at 12:30 p.m. followed by a service at 1:30 on thanksgiving for Leonida's life, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall.