O'HANDLEY, LEON
ALEXANDER
At 58 years old, Leon Alexander O’Handley passed away on December 11, 2007, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He will be sadly missed by his Daughter, Leona and Son, Matthew, his brothers and sisters, as well as the many friends he made along the way. Leon was one of the best story tellers, and loved to visit with everyone and laugh over the stories that he had heard or been through along his travels. He also loved animals, horses in particular, and often spoke of the fun and adventures he had working at racetracks and stables. A lover of the woods, he always had stories of the days when he was logging, which were cut short when he had a massive heart attack and subsequent heart transplant seventeen years ago. His determination and abilities after his operation amazed everybody, especially the medical community. He continued to stretch the limits by completing the Great Walk three times, a feat that is difficult for the most fit. Someone who would do anything for others, he continues to help people in his passing by donating his body to science for research. His courage, sense of humor and dedication to what he set his heart on are something that will hopefully live on in every person that he touched, and that list is really unbelievably long. Donations can be made in Leon's name to the heart and stroke foundation.