Obituary of Gerd Ingeborg Leggiadro

LEGGIADRO, Gerd Ingeborg  (Nee Lindqvist)- Age 95 of Halifax, Our ray of eternal sunshine found her forever wings. So fitting for who she was, she joined the team of Angels on all Saints Day, November 1, 2024.

Born in Alno, Sundsvall, Sweden on December 26, 1928. Daughter to Nestor and Svea Lindqvist and sister to Donald, Curt, and Jonny. Wife to late Pietro Leggiadro, mother to Franco (Yolanda), Cynthia, Elena (Walter), Raffaella and Rosemary. Grandmother to Andrea, Sydney, Adrian, Gabrielle, Luca, and Rochelle and great-grandmother to Reid, Mason, Genevieve, and Lorenzo. Gerd left Sweden as a young adult and headed to Paris and London. In Paris, she attended the Sorbonne University and worked as an au pair for a Canadian family who was instrumental in bringing her to Canada in 1951. In Canada, she worked as a clerk with The Aluminum Company of Canada in Montreal, and the Red Rose Tea Company in Toronto. In 1955 she married Pietro and by 1959, with two kids in tow and one on the way, Gerd accompanied her husband to new horizons around the world. Italy for a while, where her third daughter was born, then to Afghanistan where she had her fourth child. Afghanistan captured her heart. Gerd had a knack for languages and easily picked up new ones giving her a gateway to the cultures and history of her new adopted countries. Already a speaker of Swedish, German, French, Italian, and English, she picked up Farsi in no time and as one of the very few foreigners who made Afghanistan her home for 10 years, she became the go-to person for newcomers helping with the language and knowledge, whether it was shopping at the bazaars (and she loved a good bargain), speaking to the help, getting around town or learning how to curtsy for Princess Margaret’s visit to Kabul. Gerd also lived for 3 years in Ghana and Nigeria. In 1973, Gerd together with her husband and children, returned to Italy and resided in Rome and Florence for the next 23 years. In 1996 after a life of wandering the world, Gerd, together with her husband returned to Canada where her adult children were living. Gerd spent her last 28 years in Halifax.

Gerd was an avid reader of books of all kinds but loved history and archeology books the most. She also loved a challenging crossword puzzle. She had a designer eye. When it came to furnishing a home, putting an art collection together, or making clothing, she was a professional. She sewed many of her clothes and her kid's clothes when they were young. She knit all their sweaters and made medal-winning Carnevale costumes. She loved her morning coffee and her ‘drop’ of coffee in the afternoon. She was a fantastic baker, making her own marzipan from scratch. She loved her pets, in particular little ‘pippa’ who she brought from Florence to Canada. Gerd led her life with understated elegance and knew how to find joy and beauty in life’s simple moments. She treated everybody with such kindness, warmth, and love that friends and people who knew her, many from her past, continue to remind her family how caring she was with everyone. Gerd’s family wishes to thank the Melville Lodge for the care and attention which was given to Gerd during her stay there and in particular for the care afforded her during her last few days of life.

Arrangements and cremation have been entrusted to J. Albert Walker Funeral Home, Halifax.  In keeping with the families wishes there is no visitation or Funeral Service being held.  To place online condolences, please visit the tribute section on the website.