Joann Leighton, 82, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully on Nov. 12, 2014.
She is survived by her brother-in-law, John “Jack” Leighton of Wakefield, Mass.; special Shitzu Shar-Li; close friends and yoga students.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, William Leighton, who passed away in 1998.
Leighton was born in 1932 in Montreal Canada to Elsie and Richard Williscroft.
Passionate throughout each phase of her life, Leighton began her career as a ballet dancer on stages for an exclusive supper club circuit traveling throughout Canada, New York and Boston. During that time she began studies in Yoga and founded the first Ashram in Belmont, Mass., in 1965.
With a gift for sharing her knowledge and talents she conducted Yoga retreats, published articles and books and developed a televised series bringing news of Yoga from the East to West coast.
Retiring to Sebastian, she continued her life’s work for another 19 years through her Yoga for Life classes and teacher training in Barefoot Bay, Roseland, Sebastian and Vero Beach.
Her life made a difference for many people.
A Memorial Service will be announced in the near future. A Memorial fund will be established for the erection of a permanent local monument honoring her life’s work.
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