April Joy Leask

April Leask (Notaras, Nycz), 80, passed away peacefully in her home with her son at her side on June 24, 2021. She was born to George and Joyce Notaras in Wenatchee, Washington on April 25, 1941. April grew up in Soap Lake, WA and was one of 7 seven children. She was in the first class to graduate from Soap Lake High School. April was preceded in death by her parents; Husbands Dick Nycz and Wally Leask, brothers David Monte and Tony Notaras; sister Marina Romary (Notaras). Stepson Steve Leask. Nephews Raymond(Lauren) Granillo and Andy(Dena) Notaras, and her niece Nicole Notaras. She is survived by her son Duane Nycz, sisters Freida Sebok (Notaras) and Joyce (Jim) Conklin (Notaras) and her brother Nick Notaras . Daughters through marriage Connie Lambert (Larry), Cathy Harrison and Janie Leask and her stepson-in-laws Larry Lambert and Greg (Mary Ann) Nycz and daughters-in-law Tanya(Dale) Elliot and Libby(Steve) Leask. Numerous nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and step-greatgrandchildren and her "since birth" best friend Ella Joe Snyder(York) Growing up in a large happy family in Soap Lake Washington April was good at sports like Volleyball and Softball. She worked as a car hop at the A&W. She was always proud to have been the Suds and Sun Princess of Soap Lake in 1958. After she graduated from High School she married the first love of her life, Dick (Richard) Nycz who was an airman stationed nearby at Larson Airforce base in Moses Lake, WA. They spent the first year of their marriage in Soap Lake, but when Richard got out of the service they moved to his hometown of Streator Illinois with their son Duane. There she worked at being a great mother and housewife as well as working as a waitress at the Fireside Cafe. Her husband, Dick worked at Owens Illinois Glass Factory. They had many great memories of her time spent in Streator with Dick's side of the family. In the winter of 1965 April and Dick moved to Marengo, IL where Dick worked for the Chrysler Corporation and April worked for Arnold Engineering. April was always a worker. Shortly after she started working there she noticed a few of the big bosses were watching her. She asked if she was doing something wrong and they said no...we have never seen anyone do this job so well before. Needless to say she easily kept her job there for many years. That was how she was at any job that she had throughout her lifetime. During her time in Marengo, April was a great mother and wife. She always volunteered to chaperone her son’s school field trips and attended many other functions. Her house was an open door to her son’s friends. Hungry kids could always get a meal. On a hot summer day, she would haul a carload to the local swimming hole Griebel's Beach and on a cold winter day to the Multi-plex theater 25 miles away. She would arm those kids with their own candy and popcorn to keep in their coats. She would often bring her son home to a triple decker Dagwood Sandwich and a bowl of homemade soup. Her life in Marengo was a good one. She loved their house on Forest Street, but in time her husband developed kidney disease. During that time April got her drivers license at 30 years old and learned how to run a kidney dialysis machine in her home. She took fantastic care of Dick for several years until he passed away from the disease in 1976. Her sister Joyce lived in Chicago with her husband Jim and daughter Nina. Joyce wrote of the good times from many visits to Marengo: Shake-a-day at the Taverns (with Duane & Nina sitting at the bar!), Italian Beef Sandwiches, falling asleep on the floor while the roast cooked, badminton in the backyard, April & me sitting on the porch in the storm "watching" cause it was a "Tornado Watch", Spaghetti Sandwiches, Nina & April finding 'Lilies of the Alley'. . . and so much more! Seems like it was a just a couple years ago! After an already full life, April decided to move back home to Soap Lake, WA where she had a job working for her sister Marina Romary at Don's Restaurant and the Soap Lake Businessmen's Club both well known establishments in the State of Washington. She tended bar at first but eventually she was in the kitchen full time with her mother and sister. April became a great cook and worked in the business for 40+ years where she earned a reputation for her great soups, home cooking, Greek Cuisine, quick wit, hard work, happy heart and contagious smile. Life continued for April and she met the second true love of her life, Wally Leask . . . Wally had a fishing boat and kids with kids so she got to have grandchildren. April worked with Wally for three summers on his fishing boat in Metlakatla, Alaska where they worked hard and had fun and ate a lot of fresh crab and salmon. Wally had played on Seattle's first professional basketball team. April was always proud of helping put together Wally's 75th birthday party where many formerly well-known basketball players attended. April had a great time with Wally and their children both at home and traveling. They had many weekend gatherings, family dinners and trips together. They visited Arizona, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Alaska and Florida. There were many meals fixed by her at her house where all sides of the family attended. Everyone loved April's cooking. They worked hard in the yard with Wally's daughter and son-in-law Connie and Larry Lambert making it a showpiece. They were even awarded ‘yard of the month’! Wally passed away in 2004 and April missed him dearly but carried on. As with the rest of her life April still loved and worked at putting together family parties on or near holidays, loved a card game - Pinochle, Cribbage, Poker and others, loved a trip to the local Casino or better yet Las Vegas and just loved to travel in general. She loved her many road trips with her son Duane to see the great scenery of the Pacific Northwest and ALWAYS to try a different interesting restaurant along the way. April loved the rock canyon walls of the Coulee north of Soap Lake. She ALWAYS commented while going through them. Even when should couldn't speak very well, she pointed and smiled. A piece of her heart with be there forever. April took great care of her mother in her final years. Making sure she had plenty of company, things to do, great food and just knowing that she was loved. Her mother passed away at 93 in 2005. 2005 was a hard year for her. April continued to work in the kitchen of Don's restaurant with her sister Marina for the next several years making great soups, Greek Cuisine, and ‘Damn Good’ home cooking. She would show up for work and in a blink of an eye there were several pots on the stove and pans in the oven. She put on many large banquets for various occasions. No matter how good she was at it, she was always nervous about how everything would turn out. Over the years April helped many people who were shut-ins or having hard times. Stories come now, long after, about the things she did for people without a need for recognition....she just did it. Always a giver and a helper, many a shut-in and lonely, hungry hospital or nursing home patient received her love. In her later years April could be found at the Soap Lake Businessmen's Club on Saturday nights dancing to the live music of Bonnie Guitar and making sure the band had that special coffee cup with some Blackberry Brandy. Despite her busy life April always had time for her son Duane and was a great mother as long she was able with her recipes, her wisdom, her sage advice, her help and her love. The had a very special relationship through their years. Dementia crept into the last 6+ years of her life - some bits and pieces left and some stayed. Her beautiful smile was the last to go and will be forever missed my many. Donations to the Alzheimer's foundation in April's name can be made at https://act.alz.org/site/Donation

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April Joy Leask

June 24, 2021