Elizabeth Leonard

Antonio Fyme was born in Warnink, Holland, Aug. 29, 1879, the son of Elisabeth and Gerardus Fyme and came to Newfoundland as a priest in 1903. After 7 years at the Cathedral parish in St. John’s, he was transferred to St. Bride’s parish. The church built in Branch during his tenure was designed by his brother Gerard. His mother and his sister Elizabeth emigrated from Holland to join him in St. Bride’s where his mother served as parish housekeeper. Fr. Fyme was transferred to the much larger St. Kyran’s parish in 1913, that included St. Leonard’s, Clattice Harbour, Bruley, Presque, Big and Little Bona, Great and Little Paradise, Isle Valen, Darby's Harbour, South East Bight, Toslow and Petite Forte. His mother passed at St. Kyran’s in 1914 at the age of 63 and is buried near the stone church in St. Leonard’s.

Fr. Fyme’s sister Elizabeth married Fred Leonard from St. Leonard’s on December 26, 1918. They had two children, Aloysius (1922) and John (1924). Unfortunately, John drowned after being washed overboard from the Queen of Bermuda during a storm in October 1952.

Fr. Fyme moved to Merasheen in 1938 and retired in 1956. Fred and Elizabeth (people called her Mrs. Fred) and their son Aloysius, his wife Margaret and family moved to Merasheen in the summer of 1954. Mrs. Fred served as Fr. Fyme’s housekeeper for a couple of years and also taught music. Margaret (Mrs. Leonard) taught school between 1954 to 1962 before their family moved to another teaching position in her home town of Bell Island. The Leonard children were Tony, Wish, Patrick (Pad), Ellen and Bernadette.

From Anita Best: “her accent was lovely, albeit hard to understand as a child. There was always the smell of freshly ground coffee in her house and in her brother's, as well. And immaculate, finely-embroidered tablecloths”.

Elizabeth passed at Merasheen on May 9, 1959 at age 71 and is buried near her mother at the stone church. Freddy passed on December 27, 1965.

Many thanks to:

Anita Best, for the inspiration to post this;

Ellen (Leonard) Clarke, for the great pictures and additional family information;

Ernie Walsh, always there to offer support and a wealth of information!