Leinita O Woods

Leinita O. Woods (nee Riehl)
1940 - 2020

The cheering section at the racetrack in the sky got a little louder on March 30th, 2020 as our mom, Leinita, joined our dad Hughie.

Leinita’s family called her Nita, her friends called her Lee, but most importantly she was called mom and grandma.  Mom was born and raised in Dauphin by her parents Bill and Nan Riehl.  Mom met Hugh while she was in high school; he was always very quick to tell anyone that they didn't so much 'meet', more that she tried to run him over with her car, and never let her forget it.  After high school, Leinita worked for the highways department where she made many lifelong friends.  Mom and dad were married in 1965 and a few years later began building their forever home and horse farm.  Mom left her job at the highways in 1973 to enter a much harder workforce; becoming a mother. While dad was racing horses, mom not only took care of us, she also took care of the farm, and managed to teach us practically everything.  
Mom made our childhood so much fun; crafts, sewing, cooking, baking and music - there was never a shortage of singing and dancing in our house.  There was nothing our mom couldn't do.  The whole family would spend our summers living in a house trailer traveling with our dad through Manitoba racing, but we never felt we were not at home nor did we ever miss out on any childhood activities.  My mom always made sure of this.  
Mom played piano beautifully and had the voice of an angel.  She sang in the Baptist Church Choir, and loved to volunteer her time helping out the Dauphin Library, taught Sunday School, and was a Girl Guide Leader for the Brownies.  
When we were teenagers, mom went back to school to learn computer skills and re-enter the workforce.  When mom retired from the Inky Mark Constituency office, her and dad then enjoyed their time together racing horses and just being at their home, never missing their afternoon tea time.
After dad passed, mom re-found her volunteering passion; giving special event tours to children at the Fort Dauphin Museum, running an info booth at the Agricultural Fair, and working as one of the Sandringham Ladies.  Mom was very proud of being part of the Dauphin Senior's Centre, sitting on the Social Committee; assisting with activities from birthday parties to dances, and working bingo.  Here she made many new special friends and reconnected with friends from the past.  She was always telling us stories about who she saw and talked to!  
Mom's schedule was quite full, but she was more than happy to free up some of her time when her granddaughter Ava arrived.  You could see her eyes sparkle and face light up when the two of them were together or she spoke of her. 

Left to remember all the beautiful things about Leinita are her daughters Hughanne and Kara Lee, granddaughter Ava, son in law Chris and her furry companions Tim Bit and Twiddles.  She also was blessed with numerous family members who she loved to get together with or talk to on the phone, and special friends with whom she spent time and they in turn made her life brighter.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Flowers are gratefully declined.  Should friends so desire, donations may be made in memory Leinita to CancerCare Manitoba.  

We would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff at Dauphin Regional Health Centre especially the Cancer Care Unit that attended to her and were very kind and caring, as well as the staff at Brandon Regional Health Centre who extended their kindness to us.  

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