Mereda Leek

Celebrating a life of quiet strength and lifelong connections 

On October 21 , 2026, we said goodbye to Mereda Leek – beloved wife, mother, Nana and friend who passed away peacefully at Saskatoon’s Sherbrooke Community Centre. 

Anne Mereda Hope Smith Leek was born on April 15, 1937, although she felt age specifics should be treated as state secrets. Neil & Stella Smith’s middle child who, with older sister Neta and younger brother Arthur became “Nee, Wee, and Artie”. They grew up part of a busy, welcoming house behind the family store on Main Street in Springdale, Newfoundland. As life and family took her across Canada, a part of her heart always remained in Springdale. 

Mereda’s first move on her own into the world was St. John’s, to study education at Memorial University. For the rest of her life, she treasured memories of her time in teacher training and her time in residence. She began her teaching career in several small communities, forging friendships, even with students, that endured for many years. 

Teaching brought her to Labrador in the early 1960’s. Bonds were formed – including with Liz, the Nova Scotia teacher who became a lifelong friend. The military base in Goose Bay had an active social scene and another young woman in the barracks had expressed interest in a handsome weatherman from Saskatchewan. With some help, the timing aligned, appropriate messages were delivered and an offer to carry Mereda’s curling broom followed. The other young woman missed out as their love story took flight. Despite history with nice guys named Ken, Mereda’s heart knew this was the right Ken. The right Ken to marry in July 1962, to build a family and life together across the years and the country. The right Ken to forge her deepest connection – as loving partners for more than 63 years. 

A lifelong commitment made, then came the work of building a life together. Even before the wedding, Mereda and Liz, in Ken’s borrowed car drove across the country to meet her future in-laws in Saskatchewan - not an easy trans-Canada journey in 1961. 

The newlyweds winding journey together continued, with a transfer taking them to Inuvik, NWT where they welcomed a baby boy, Kevin. The tour of weather station postings continued to Sept Isles, Quebec and Churchill, Manitoba, before another Mereda Leek move brought them to Stephenville, Newfoundland, closer to Springdale and family. Here they welcomed Wayne and their little family was complete. Some years in St. John’s before a final cross-Canada move to Saskatoon, for a career opportunity that came with a chance to be close to Ken’s aging parents. 

Another move meant another kitchen and doing the work to build connections and family life, with two growing boys and Ken’s new job that took him on the road. She never returned to teaching, but found her way back to helping in schools, doing vision and hearing screening for years for the health department. 

The Saskatoon roots grew deep and the Leek home was somewhere friends new and old, from near or far were welcome. As Kevin and Wayne built their own circles of friends and began building their own lives, Mereda and Ken enjoyed being part of it in whatever form possible. With the passing of their parents, it says something that both Kevin & Wayne have had many friends reach out with fond remembrances. Perhaps Kevin arriving home very late one night to find Mereda doing dishes wasn’t a coincidence-it was partly parental concern for his safe arrival, but also wanting to stay engaged with his life. The long-distance calls and later FaceTimes with Wayne & family were less about the information shared and more about keeping that connection with their Toronto family. 

With family and friends spread across the country, Mereda and Ken made multiple trips across the continent over the years. Long journeys become easier when broken into smaller journeys to see friends and they had friends across the country. Mereda reconnected with a childhood friend and a stop at Marilyn & Verne’s in Minnesota became a favourite stopover destination. 

All mothers claim that they will love whomever their son’s bring home but for Mereda, her love was genuine and grew out of the happiness she saw Debbie & Eva bring into her sons’ lives. As grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren were added to the family tree, Mereda & Ken found joy in not only offering love & support, but being a part of staying connected to the lives of family. In later years, they both enjoyed being around when busy great-granddaughters were visiting, or just hearing on the ipad about school & sports and Joey in Toronto. 

Always a devoted & loving daughter, Mereda remained close with family, no matter the distance. Neta & Mereda’s bond was especially strong – supporting each other across miles, through family joy & sadness, with love and laughter. Since Neta’s passing several years ago, Mereda had very much missed the connection to her sister, to Springdale, to home. Her Newfoundland accent faded many years ago, but we always teased that it magically reappeared on the phone with Neta. 

As Ken faced a terminal diagnosis in Fall, 2025, his concern was not for himself, but more for Mereda. Perhaps in his heart, he knew the difficulty he would face in going on without her beside him. In the end, it was the same for Mereda. After his passing in Feb. 2026, she continued to find joy in family & friends, but mustering the strength to overcome both continued health challenges and the pain from missing those she loved most was tough. 

Mereda and Ken shared a kind of practical spirituality. Bigger questions about things like God and the afterlife were left filed under “probable” but not things to get hung up on . The more important goal was to show love to those around you through family, church and community, something they both demonstrated through the lives they lived. 

If there is a hereafter, our hope is that Mereda has been reunited with those she loved. She is laughing at the Springdale Sunday dinner table with Nan, Pop, Art and Neta. She’s been on the phone with friends, including a long chat with Liz about grandchildren and long-ago road trips. Some retail therapy at The Bay is planned (as Jaimie noted, it’s no coincidence The Bay went under after Nana stopped shopping there frequently). 

And her handsome weatherman is there waiting, with a ricebag freshly warmed in the microwave, reaching for her hand. 

She is survived by two loving sons, Kevin (Debbie) of Saskatoon, and Wayne (Eva) of Toronto. Much beloved Nana to Stacey (Andrew), Jaimie (Cody), Curtis, Julianne and Great Nana to Charlotte & Piper. Her greatest joy came from sharing in her family’s lives, whether a family dinner, cross-country road trip or FaceTime call. Mereda leaves a wide circle of family & friends near and far who will miss her kindness and her efforts to stay in touch. 

Our family will celebrate both our parents together at a later date. Thanks to the caring staff at Sherbrooke Community Centre, Saskatoon City Hospital and Aspira Village for the kindness of the past year. In lieu of flowers, please support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada or your favourite cause that supports people. 

We will love and remember them always. Our final ask is to follow Mereda & Ken’s example – be kind to others and always keep working at the lifelong connections with those you care about. And if you can, give Mom, Dad or someone you love a call and tell them you love them.