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October 30, 1974 - March 19, 2020
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing, from natural causes, of Leah Christena Watson Pritchett, at her home in Richmond Hill, Ontario on March 19, 2020. She was the devoted and very special "Mommy" of Elma and Ezra Pritchett (Richmond Hill, ON), cherished daughter of William (Bill) Watson and Christine (Chris) Watson (Alliston, ON) and adored sister of Jenna Watson (Barcelona, Spain). Leah is also mourned by her aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family and friends, as well as her ex-husband and equally devoted co-parent of their children, Jason Pritchett.
Leah was born in Sault Ste. Marie, ON on October 30, 1974. Two years later, she became the best "big sister" to Jenna and as they grew older, she and Jenna were often mistaken for twins. As a young child, Leah was happy-natured and playful. She was also curious and inquisitive and became an avid reader at a very early age. She attended Kiwedin Public School and participated in a number of extracurricular activities before she and her sister concentrated on competitive swimming at the Sault Ste. Marie Aquatic Club, continuing that sport into her high school years. At Sir James Dunn Collegiate, she played the clarinet and the saxophone in the school band and was a very active member of the student council. Throughout those years, she also held part-time jobs in a retail sports store and a monthly medical clinic. During the summer months, she always looked forward to camping with her parents and sister, along with their extended network of friends who felt like family.
Leah was a very conscientious student and was the valedictorian for her grade eight class. She graduated from high school in 1993 with excellent marks that took her to the University of Waterloo. From there, she graduated at the top of her class in Chemical Engineering and made lifelong friends. She wore her iron ring with pride at jobs in Brockville, London, Vancouver and Lafayette, Indiana before her current position at Sanofi Pasteur in Toronto. She spoke very highly of her co-workers at Sanofi Pasteur for many reasons, including their kindness and understanding of her ongoing challenges with Multiple Sclerosis.
During her twenties and early thirties, Leah travelled extensively and lived life with a strong sense of adventure, a huge smile, a curious mind and an open heart. Backpacking through China, trekking through Europe and South America and making several trips to Barcelona were highlights of her travels. She was even a bit of a daredevil and tried both skydiving and bungee jumping.
Leah's true joy came with the birth of Elma Jenna in 2007 and Ezra William in 2010. She loved her children endlessly and unconditionally and their reciprocal love brought more happiness into her life than she had ever imagined. Elma recently wrote a very beautiful paragraph for school calling Leah “my wonder woman, my hero, and my amazing Mom.” Leah always knew how to make her children laugh and she told them multiple times a day how much she loved them. She was constantly positive with them and never let her MS hold her back from their activities together. She enjoyed planning and participating in any activity that involved Elma and Ezra, and never failed to find interesting adventures for them. She always tried to fill their home with love and laughter.
Leah and Jenna celebrated their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary this past summer with a visit to Sault Ste. Marie. Leah was ecstatic to reconnect with friends whom she hadn’t seen in quite some time, all of whom loved her deeply. Another anniversary celebration for the immediate family took place at a resort in the Muskokas that Leah and the kids loved so much from previous summers. Those recent memories are forever etched in our hearts and we feel very blessed to have shared those swims, trips down the waterslide, market visits, treks to the library and kayak rides together. Leah was always the first person at the campfires, excited to make s’mores with Elma and Ezra. She had a great sense of fun.
Leah was a tender, sensitive, compassionate and caring person who cried tears for anything and everything that touched her heart. She will be desperately and forever missed by all of those who loved her. Services will not be held at this time due to the ongoing COVID19 restrictions. We hope to host a celebration of Leah’s life and spirit in June. We will be sure to inform family, friends, loved ones and co-workers when plans have been made.
In recent years, Leah found friendship, support, activities and a place to share laughter, hugs and tears with an MS support group in Richmond Hill. In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that you support Leah’s MS family with donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada at https://mssociety.ca/
Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.marshallfuneralhome.com