Tributes paid to 'truly gifted' Leona

Tributes have been paid to a young Derry student who died last week following a short battle with cancer.
Leona Reid, who passed away last week.Leona Reid, who passed away last week.
Leona Reid, who passed away last week.

Leona Reid, from Drumahoe in the city, had been studying at the University of Dundee in Scotland.

A past pupil of Foyle College, she had been studying Spanish and Law. She was also Fashion Editor and Deputy Editor of the university’s Magdalen magazine.

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Leona was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in September.

A prolific blogger, the Derry woman had written extensively about fashion and popular culture.

She described herself as “A girl with a passion for life and all things beautiful.”

Dominic Younger, Dundee University Students Association vice-president of communications and campaigns said:

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“She was a truly gifted student and through her time as fashion editor and then deputy editor of our sister publication the Magdalen, she brought endless fun and wit to her peers.She was heartbreakingly taken before her time. Leona will be terribly missed by all who had the pleasure to know her.”

She had recently highlighted how grateful she was for the support of her family in one of her blog posts.

“I’ve been extremely blessed throughout my life with friends and family, they are the most important thing to me.”

Leona had also written about her time in hospital and how glad she was to return home from hospital earlier this year.

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She wrote: “It’s been over a month since I was let out of hospital and back into my own lovely house (which I had missed terribly). Day to day life isn’t always the easiest, but I have to attest to the truth in the saying ‘there’s no place like home’. Obviously I still have my moments where I feel vulnerable and helpless but they are soon overridden by the sense of safety I have being in my own environment and most importantly, being with my family.”

Leona is survived by her parents, Stephen and Janice, and her brother Craig.

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