Lenora Santo

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Lenora Mary Santo (nee Walyor) was born December 21, 1925, to German immigrants Eli and Katherine (Moser) Walyor in the small town of Odessa, SK. Lenora died peacefully Tuesday, February 8, 2022, in Whitewood, SK, at the age of 96 years. It is the years in between that are most important to remember. Eli and Katherine were the proud parents of one son and six daughters. Life was hard for the family, but Eli used his skills and became the local blacksmith, as well as town cop, in Odessa for a time. Around 1942, he moved his family to Regina and worked for a brewery until he fell ill and died at the age of 62 years.

Lenora completed her Grade 12 in Regina, continued her education in Normal School and became a teacher in a country school near Maxim, SK. Her second posting was at Bender, SK, (a small town just outside of Kipling, SK) and that is where she met her husband, Carlyle. They were married in 1948 and bought a small farm south of Whitewood, SK. After giving birth to two sons, Robert and Patrick, Lenora went back to teaching, first at two local country schools , Grove Park and St. Hubert, and then on to become a Grade 5 teacher at Whitewood, retiring after 28 years. Through all those years, she enjoyed teaching her students, bringing most classes to the farm for occasional picnics and such. She involved her students in curling, skiing, track and field, softball, etc.

Lenora loved to cook and, together with Carlyle, also loved to entertain. They held many staff parties and family reunions at the farm. They also loved to travel and every summer would travel somewhere in Canada to visit Lenora’s sisters or enjoy bus tours through the states.

After retiring, Lenora became involved in tutoring immigrants, ceramics, collecting dolls, bird watching, curling, bowling and especially growing flowers. She and Carlyle also regularly played cards with neighbours. Lenora was very involved with her four grandchildren, passing on her knowledge whenever she could.

Carlyle and Lenora moved their house from the farm into Whitewood in 2000 and lived there until 2014, when Carlyle died. Sadly, about that time, Lenora was afflicted with Alzheimers, and she took up residence in the Whitewood Nursing Home, where she received loving care until her death.

Lenora leaves to mourn her passing her two sons, two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. There will be a family graveside service at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice, the Whitewood Community Health Centre or the Alzheimers Society.