Obituary of Leanora L. Deslandes

DESLANDES, Leanora Louise (nee Cranston) Miss Pinkie - 1926 - 2024. Passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 17th, 2024. Leanora has been a resident at Presidential Place Assisted Living, Hollywood, Florida, in the Memory Care Unit since 2017. Prior to moving into assisted living care, Leanora, lived in her own Condo, in Century Village, Pembroke Pines, Florida. Predeceased by her parents, Advira Elizabeth Cranston (nee Anderson) and her father William Claud Cranston. Widowed by Horace Nathaniel Deslandes, in 2000. Survived by her two devoted daughters, Yvonne Myers (Roy) and Shevon Nelson. Caring grandmother to Lynden Myers and Michele Myers, of Toronto, Canada, Denise Nelson of L.A., California, Duane Nelson (Jen) and her three great grandchildren, Olivia Grace, Michaela and Christopher from Montclair, N.J. Leanora (Miss Pinkie) was born in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. She was the only child for her parents. As a child she grew up in Kingston, Jamaica where she attended an all-girl’s Catholic school. After leaving school she became a self-taught dressmaker. Leanora and Horace, immigrated to England in 1952, where they lived until 1967. In 1967 they both moved to Morristown, N.J., to join her father who had immigrated to the U.S. several decades earlier. Miss Pinkie, studied and worked in nursing while she resided in London, England. Leanora was a strong and determined person a formidable force that could not be held back by any obstacle. Miss Pinkie was a sharp dresser. A gifted craftswoman, she was particularly productive with a sewing machine, making gorgeous wedding gowns and dresses for the whole bridal party without using a pattern when she lived in England. Miss Pinkie’s clothing were custom designed made to measure. Miss Pinkie also made the most mouth-watering black wedding cakes in her day. She shared her secret recipe with a limited number of her good friends, but her cakes were the best. Always on the move, Miss Pinkie, took a trip to New York City in early 1964 to study hairdressing. After she returned to England from New York, she brought back hair weaving, long extensions. Turning out some beautiful hair styles at £5.00 per row in 1965. She became so busy she had to employ full-time hair weavers to make the rows of hair as she worked. Hair weaving was new to black women who lived in London in 1965/66. Miss Pinkie, loved to travel. In 1967, Leanora, her husband, and her younger daughter, immigrated to the USA and resided in Morristown, N.J. While she was living there, she worked at Morris View, in Morris Twp., N.J., until her retirement. Leanora was an entrepreneur before the word was used so loosely. She made many friends wherever she lived, and she help numerous friends to join her in England from Jamaica and a few others to join her in the U.S.A. after she immigrated there. She bought and sold several homes during her lifetime including overseeing the construction of a home in Spanish Town, Jamaica then onto her dream home on the top of Cooper’s Hill, Jamaica, overlooking the entire vicinity down into St. Andrew’s, Port Royal, the Airport, and the surrounding areas. At nightfall she would sit with her dear husband, family, and friends to enjoy the bright lights down below. Miss Pinkie didn’t stay in one place for very long though. Before immigrating back to the U.S. in 2006, she resided in her last home in Jamaica in Tower Isles, St. Mary, where she lived for 15 years. After the death of her husband Horace, she returned to live permanently in Florida, U.S. where she lived until her death. Leanora, was a devoted parishioner in the Catholic Church both in Jamaica and in the U.S. The highlight of her religious experience was meeting Pope Saint John Paul II, during his 3-day visit to Jamaica on August 9, 1993, when he visited the Catholic Church, where she attended in Jamaica. Leanora enjoyed Cruises. She was an avid tourist visiting several Islands in the Caribbean and she made many friends during her travels. Mom, Nana, Nana-Banana, Miss Pinkie, Leanora, will be missed deeply by her two daughters, her four grandchildren and her three great grandchildren. She will also be missed by her extended family and devoted friends who made a point to visit her regularly to spend quality time with her from the first day of her residency in Presidential Place to her last days there. We know she is resting peacefully after living life to the fullest. Goodbye darling one, until we meet again. To be published in: Pembroke Pines, Florida Morristown, New Jersey Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica In Repose Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Please keep the Deslandes family in your thoughts and prayers. The Joseph A. Scarano Pines Memorial Chapel is Honored to assist the Deslandes family with the arrangements.