Leslie Holbrough

HOLBROUGH, Leslie - Passed on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Silent Valley Park, Ayton, Ontario. Les was born on October 3, 1937 in Ajax, Ontario to Donald and Edna Holbrough. He was preceded in death by his wife Beatrice (nee Coates). 

Leslie is survived by his family, Lynda Steffler, Kathy Innes (Bill), Dean Holbrough (Betina), Adam Holbrough (Elaine) and Aaron Holbrough (Amy). 

Grandfather of Robin, Dana, Teletha (Dustin), Jamie (Sarah), Bethany (Tony), Erika (Adam), Alex (Laura), Katarina (Belal), Marcus, Dakota, Brooklin (Calvin), Nate, and Zachary. Grampa spent time with the grandkids and enjoyed taking them fishing, cooking for them and watching them swim in the lake/pool and play games with Gramma. 

Great-grandfather of Hayden, Jarod, Aidan, Hudson, Mackenzie, Immanuel and Beatrice.

As the son of a Pastor, he moved around Ontario for most of his childhood into his early teenage years. Attending college in Toronto, he took up the trade of photo engraving which he continued until his retirement in 1995 at the age of 58. 

He met his future wife, Beatrice Coates, at a dance and they married in 1960. Over the next 10 years, they had five kids, moved from an apartment in Toronto to a beautiful house in Georgetown. 

In 1972 Les was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On the palliative care wing of the Georgetown Hospital, he met a hospital chaplain who would visit often. A simple prayer from a stranger changed Les’ life. Over the next few days and weeks tests revealed the cancer was gone. The medical team were astonished at the spontaneous remission of the terminal disease without treatment. 

For Les, this new lease on life motivated a radical change. His newfound faith in God would influence everything that came after. With his miraculous recovery and newfound faith Les bought a farm and moved his family to Conn, Ontario where they lived for 12 years raising pigs, chickens and a horse. 

While Les continued to commute to Toronto, working a 4-day week and devoting the rest of his time to the farm experience. It was a very happy time for the Holbrough family. 

The whole family attended the Mount Forest Pentecostal Church starting Easter Sunday 1977. Les became a Deacon, and eventually was granted credentials with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and became the Visitation Pastor for the church. 

After the farm, Les and Beatrice and the two young twins (Adam and Aaron) moved into the nearby town of Mount Forest. Eventually he and Beatrice moved to their home in Silent Valley near Ayton where they lived happily until Beatrice’s passing in 2010. 

Les continued to live in their home with his dog Tasha until his recent passing. This home nestled among the trees, became a place of retreat for the whole family. The grandkids especially remember enjoying much of their summers swimming in the lake or pool, walking through the woods, playing Scrabble, making microwave s’mores, watching movies and playing video games; loving all the moments spent with their grandparents. 

Les missed his beloved Beatrice and would often say how much he was looking forward to seeing her again. 

Dad has been embraced into the arms of love. 

Private arrangements entrusted to the England Funeral Home, Mount Forest.