05/29/2026
Leone Genevieve (O'Connell) Campbell died peacefully on 27 May 2026, in Sackville NB.
Leone was born into a tight knit family in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, in 1937. The youngest of five; Regis (James MacLellan), Kathleen (Earl Verner), Kevin, Mary (Eddie Gallant) & Leone were born to Malcolm Francis O'Connell and Christina (O'Keefe) O'Connell. Leone was the last surviving member of her immediate family, and of her large network of O'Connell, MacKinnon, O'Keefe, Jamael and other cousins. She remained in close and loving contact with her extended family all their lives.
The family survived the depression, war and personal tragedies through the determination of Malcolm, a coal company plumber and master craftsman, and the faith of Christina, a saintly homemaker, at their house on Victoria St. and their beloved bungalow at East Bay, both built by Malcolm. Leone was a keen athlete with a lifelong love of skating, swimming and basketball; she surprised youngsters by sinking baskets well into her sixties.
Recurrent infections took her hearing in her childhood, but she read lips startlingly well, used powerful hearing aids, and filled in blanks with her strong intellect. In spite of her hearing loss she graduated from high school at age 15, immediately starting to teach large school classes herself, before her 16th birthday. She often remembered the joys and challenges of teaching, a career she pursued all her life. Between teaching, Leone progressively upgraded her license by attending St. Frances Xavier, Dalhousie, & St. Mary's, before eventually graduating from Mount Allison University. She wore her XRing with pride all her life.
While on a summer upgrading session at Dalhousie, Leone met Donald Roscoe Campbell, then a military musician but soon to be a banker. After a few years of dating, dancing & canoe adventures, they married in 1964. Don's banking career took them all over the maritimes. Douglas was born in Digby (1965); Arthur in Glace Bay (1967) and Barbara in Charlottetown (1970). The family had additional periods in Halifax, Lower Sackville NS, North Sydney NS and finally Sackville NB. At each move Leone immersed in the community, building lifelong friendships and interests at every stage.
Leone and Don had active social lives, revolving around their many interests. Her blunt Cape Breton friendliness extended to all including bank executives, bishops, lieutenant governors, naturalists, musicians, street people, wayward strays and drifting academics.
Leone had no tolerance for pretense; nothing and nobody intimidated her. She recounted a vast store of anecdotes and experiences with laughter and joy. There was always something delicious baking at home, and often interesting food, foraging and gardening experiments underway. She welcomed her children's friends and partners, with a penchant for blessing them before outings. Chaperoning high school dances, Don and Leone wowed the students with their ballroom skills.
Later in life Leone could indulge her lifelong love of travel and adventures with Don, including camping across Canada, multiple trips to Europe, and two years teaching in post-communist Poland. She had a beloved pilgrimage back to her ancestral Ireland with her surviving sisters Kathleen and Mary. Leone loved her house at 1 Charles St. in Sackville and became an active member of the Tantramar community, enjoying visits with her large circle of friends and family, young and old.
Leone is survived by Don, her devoted husband of 62 years; her children Douglas (Amanda Cockshutt), Arthur (Helen Marlais) & Barbara (Jason Hicks); her grandchildren Rosemary Cockshutt (Collin Brown), Malcolm Campbell, Maeve Cockshutt, Caitlin Hicks & Isabelle Hicks.
She loved, and was loved by, her nieces and nephews Eileen MacLellan, Louise Manna, Paul MacLellan, Lorna MacLellan, Christina MacLellan; Gregory (Ainslie) Verner, Geoffrey (Colleen) Verner, Estelle (Rick) Janega, Regis Verner; Shane MacDougall, Christina (David) MacDougall-Fleming; Charity (Jason) Buchanan; their children and grandchildren.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of Jones Funeral Home, 70 Bridge Street, Sackville, NB (506-364-1300) from where her Funeral Service will he held on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 1:30 PM with Father Donald presiding.
Leone's family are grateful for her care at the Drew Nursing Home since her stroke in 2022. She faced paralysis with stoic courage and is now at peace. She ended every visit by telling us she loved us and we loved her.
Donations in memory of Leone can be made to the Nature Trust of New Brunswick.
Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the online memorial at www.jonesfuneralhome.ca or through the Jones Funeral Home page.