Leah BATTISTA

BATTISTA, Leah 'Death lies on her like an untimely frost Upon the sweetest flower of all the field' It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Leah Battista on November 4, 2017 at Kingston General Hospital. Only 20 years old, she died of an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism. Leah was born in Toronto to her proud parents, Cheryl Smith and Paul Battista. She grew up in Oakville, Ontario, and attended Fern Hill School (Oakville), and Hillfield Strathallan College (Hamilton). At the time of her death, she was in her third year at Queen's University, Kingston, majoring in Global Development with minors in Spanish and Business. Leah spent her first year of university at Queen's University's Bader International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England, where she met many wonderful friends and used the opportunity to travel throughout the U.K. and Europe. She absolutely loved Queen's, thriving there both academically and socially. Leah was always an outstanding student, winning many academic awards, and was particularly passionate about singing, foreign languages, and writing. At Queen's she made the Dean's list in both first and second year as well as being awarded the Loretta Johnson scholarship in first year for the highest mark in Spanish. She sang in choirs at Fern Hill and Hillfield Strathallan, and she was elected by her fellow students to serve as the Musician-in-Residence at Herstmonceux (Queen's). Leah studied vocal music with her beloved music teacher Natalie Spurrell for many years, completing the grade 8 Royal Conservatory of Music's syllabus in 2015; she was often awarded First Class Honours in these challenging music exams, and in 2008 she received the RCM's Gold Medal award for the highest mark in Ontario. She participated in many singing competitions as a soloist, and loved performing in musicals at Fern Hill and Hillfield Strathallan. Leah was also a wonderful dancer. She spent many happy years at Grace Academy in Oakville, studying modern dance, ballet, and hip hop. A little bit shy as a young child, she blossomed into a performer and found she loved the spotlight. While some people shrink or become awkward on stage, Leah was relaxed and exuded a warm, happy glow that drew you in and made you want to watch her, whether she was acting, singing, or dancing. Leah was a kind and empathetic person all her life. She could not walk past a homeless person or a street performer without giving some money. She was involved in many charitable activities throughout her school years, volunteering for food banks, fundraising for the Humane Society, helping to clean up her local community, volunteering with Pathways to Education to tutor at risk high school students in Kingston and participating in service trips to New Brunswick (with Young Round Square), and to Kenya (with Me to We). She also loved to travel with her parents, and had the opportunity to explore more cultures in 20 years than most people experience in a lifetime. She was witty and funny, loved food from around the world - with a particular fondness for Italian and Japanese - and was a great baker. Leah also really enjoyed her part-time job at Scotiabank's Oakville Main branch and made many good friends there. Leah is survived by her parents, her grandparents Rosemarie Battista, Stanley and Sheila Smith, her aunts and uncles, Margaret DaCosta (Edward), Annamaria Battista, Michael Battista (Keith), Jeannette Schiffner (Paul), and Doug Smith. She will be missed by her cousins, Erin, Alexandra, Scott, Vanessa (Rob), Derek and Dario. She will be missed by her New Jersey Aunts, Janet Rumble and Joanna Vitone. She will be missed by her wonderful friends, Henna, Elyse, Kyra, Tess, Maddi, Stephanie W., Erika, Sheyenne, Clarisse, Rukhsh, Abby, and Shawna. She will be missed by her boyfriend, Nanau Loewen. And Leah will be missed by the Solimano family of Houston, Texas - Elena, Franco, Flavia, Mario and Cecilia. Leah bonded with Elena when they were young, becoming an honorary member of the Solimano family while they were living in Oakville, and she continued that wonderful relationship even after the Solimanos moved to the U.S.. There will be a Celebration of Life for our beloved Leah on Sunday, February 25, in Hammerson Hall at the Living Arts Centre (4141 Living Arts Drive) in Mississauga. All are welcome. A foundation is being created which will carry on Leah's legacy of giving with details to be provided at her Celebration of Life. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/leahs-celebration-of-life-tickets-41926301697