Obituary of Napoleon A. (Leon) Rebryna

June 19, 1927 - Hafford, Saskatchewan

September 19, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Napoleon A. (Leon) Rebryna passed away peacefully on September 19th, 2023, in Calgary. Leon was born to Paul and Mary Rebryna on June 19, 1927, on the family farm near Hafford, SK. He was the third of five children - sister Stephanie, and brothers Michael, Joseph and William. Leon was very proud of his Ukrainian heritage and its many cultural family and holiday traditions and enjoyed Ukrainian music and dancing, which he taught in his youth.

Leon commenced his working life in 1945 teaching in a small rural school in Saskatchewan. He met Mary (nee Pidhaychuk) in Prince Albert in October of 1949, and they were married on July 16, 1950. He always said that she was the prettiest girl at the dance!

Leon obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Major in Mathematics) from the University of Saskatchewan (1952) and together, he and Mary moved to Central Alberta where he continued to teach and act as assistant principal in various locales until 1956.

Leon had a diversion from teaching and embarked upon a career in the oil industry working with Schlumberger of Canada from 1956 - 1961. He traveled across Canada and the United States with his work, often bringing Mary and Diane with him on extended trips to Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. Realizing that traveling for work was difficult on his family, Leon returned to Edmonton where he completed his B.Ed. in Education from the University of Alberta (1961) and began his storied career with the Edmonton Public School System.

Over three consecutive years from 1965 - 1967, during his summers off from teaching, Leon took his young family to Eugene, Oregon where he obtained his Masters of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Mathematics from the University of Oregon (1967). Apart from his time set aside for studying, summers in Oregon were fun for everyone and included many “19 cent Bob’s Hamburgers”, and “Shakey’s Pizza” dinners, University of Oregon Ducks football games, and trips to the ocean where the family enjoyed camping by the beautiful Oregon sand dunes near Florence and Coos Bay.

Leon’s teaching career took him to a number of schools in Stony Plain and Edmonton where he was a teacher, department head, an administrator with the Edmonton Public School Board, and assistant principal. In 1977 Leon was appointed Principal at Harry Ainlay High School where he was responsible for 150 staff members and over 2200 students, finally retiring in 1984. One of Leon’s proudest moments in his career was to bring the International Baccalaureate Programme to Harry Ainlay, which is known for encouraging students to flourish intellectually, physically, emotionally and ethically.

The travel bug that Leon acquired while working for Schlumberger as a young man continued as the family took many extended vacations throughout the United States and Canada during his summer months away from teaching. Their travels afforded them opportunities to see and experience many locales and to witness significant events such as the Apollo 11 moon launch in 1969. Florida was like a second home to Leon, Mary and their kids!

Leon was an active member of the Alberta Teachers Association and became a Lifetime Member in 1984, Throughout their years in Edmonton, both Leon and Mary were active in the Lions Club and made many lifelong friends. He also volunteered with several community organizations, including those involving youth athletics and the Boy Scouts in Edmonton, as well as the finance committee of Grace United Church. In May of 1984, Leon was honoured as one of fifteen members to take part in an Educational Delegation to Japan and Korea that was sponsored by the Government of Alberta.

After retiring, Leon and Mary spent 31 consecutive winters in their home in Sun City West, Arizona where they enjoyed golfing, square dancing and socializing with the many friends that they met from across the United States and Canada. Summers were spent in Edmonton, Osoyoos, B.C, and finally in Calgary where Leon and Mary resided since 2000. Despite retiring in Calgary, they together steadfastly remained loyal Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos/Elks fans!

Leon will forever be remembered with love by his wife of 73 years, Mary, as well as his daughter Dr. Diane Rebryna (Anast Demitt) and his son Dale Rebryna (Renee). He was predeceased by his son Dean in 2018. He was a fun “Dido” and leaves behind his step granddaughters, Carolyn Demitt (Michael Chachula) and Kaylah (Dustin) Wohlgemuth; and great-grandchildren, Greyson and Jaxon. He will be greatly missed by his sisters-in-law, Adeline Kindrachuk, Lillian Dewey, Marg Spencer, and Deb Appleyard, brother-in-law Merv Spencer, as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

At Leon’s request a private service will be held. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Leon’s family here. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, www.heartandstroke.ca or to the Lions Club if Canada,  www.lionscanada.ca.

In living memory of Leon Rebryna, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.