Twilight Years

In the years before her move to Cape Town in 1999, Leda was diagnosed with emphysema. This was a serious development in her later life.

After settling in Tamboerskloof, she continued to work and to remain engaged, as far as she could, with the cultural life of Cape Town. Her health, however, increasingly limited her.

During these later years, Leda’s social circle became smaller, and her life was often marked by loneliness.

Her last work was a painting of spring flowers at Kirstenbosch Gardens. Although the preliminary work was done at Kirstenbosch in 2002, the painting was completed in her studio in 2003.

Leda died in March 2005 at her home, as she wished. The walls of her home were filled with her own work, and she remained surrounded by them to the end.