Diana Mélanie Common

Beloved wife of Ernest Davis Dempsey and loving and devoted mother of Katharine (Patrick), Elizabeth (Daniele), and Diana. Adored by grandchildren Ernest Harrison “Harry,” Rosemary and Gordon. Dear daughter of the late Frank B. Common Jr. and Katharine Laws Common. She was the fourth of their seven children and is survived by her siblings Katharine, Anne (Aaron), Ruth (Robert), and James. Predeceased by brother Frank and sister Jane.

Diana was born in Montréal, Québec, on August 27th, 1954. She grew up in Westmount and attended Roslyn School and The Study. Although Diana always considered herself to be a shy person, she loved conversing with people. As early as six years old, when she was supposed to be having naps, she would find her way out of her family’s home on Edgehill Road and visit neighbours.

Diana grew up in both an intellectual and creative household. Hard work, manners, and structure were valued, but her childhood was also filled with music and interesting people. She spent her summers at Wapomeo Camp in Algonquin Park, Ontario, and Pointe-au-Pic, Quebec. Her home in Pointe-au-Pic, especially, was often described as a house filled with entertainment: open doors to all the children and delightful parties. It is there, still sometimes referred to fondly as “Murray Bay,” that she met her future husband Ernest, whom she married on May 24th, 1975 in Montréal. Throughout their nearly forty-nine-year relationship, they were an unstoppable team: best friends who could always make each other laugh, loyal, and in love.

Over the course of her life, Diana (along with Ernest and their daughters) lived in Cleveland, Ohio, London, England and eventually settled in her hometown of Montréal (Westmount) in 1997.

In Cleveland, Diana put her secretarial classes taken at O’Sullivan College to work as a legal secretary before becoming a full-time mother. While in London, she embraced the opportunity to learn about British history and culture, participating in American Women of Surrey excursions, taking art appreciation classes and touring museums with her children. In Montréal, Diana volunteered as a cook at Meals-on-Wheels. Saturday nights on The Boulevard were the place to be for family dinners where she would be joined by her brother James and friends of the family--who became extended family--for great conversation and laughs. Regardless of where she was living, Diana was an avid reader, needle-pointer and dog lover.

Simply put, Diana was a profoundly considerate person with an incredibly kind heart. Her favourite colours were yellow and pink—reflecting her cheeriness and persistent optimism: she could always find a way to see the positive in everything.

One year, in Cleveland, Diana, who was living surrounded by flower gardens, planted an ambitious vegetable garden. She soon realized that her large patch of vegetables was unruly and produced far more food than she and her young family could consume. Instead of becoming overwhelmed and regretful, she got straight to work preparing beautiful baskets of vegetables for family, neighbours, the local police, and the fire department. She admittedly was not a person who liked baking much beyond a birthday cake and blueberry muffins (Ernest’s favourite) but she could’ve started a zucchini bread business that summer! She always managed to turn a potentially overwhelming experience into something resilient and cheerful.

She was often described as hilarious and fun—she had a sense of humour that perfectly combined innocence and manners with sharp wit. Her dry zingers were often most effective due to the element of surprise because Diana was quite well-mannered. She loved to laugh, sometimes uncontrollably. She approached people with openness and kindness and took a genuine interest in everyone. Some of the most wonderful moments shared with Diana were around her kitchen and dining tables, often beautifully set with a hint of quirkiness. It was no accident that her kitchen table often doubled as a desk. These were places that were filled with laughter and lively conversation, where she would often tell stories and offer sage advice—sometimes even into the early hours of the morning—without ever dismissing people for their choices. Ever empathetic she was always available to listen carefully and help in any way she could. Everyone and anyone felt welcome in her home.

Diana’s generosity and thoughtfulness were reflected in her exceptional talent for choosing the perfect present; with impeccable taste, she gave gifts freely and joyfully. She loved to give stunning needlepoints (she had created), ranging from Christmas stockings to pillows to chessboards. Even in the days leading up to her death, Diana was thrilled to find the perfect birthday presents for her three grandchildren.

Recently, one of her favourite gifts were carefully curated books of family photos reflecting the moments that stood out to her amongst the endless photos she took and received via text. Each book over the last several years is filled with Diana’s favourite subject: her family.

Diana’s devotion to her children was a defining characteristic. A completely committed mother, Diana supported her children through all their respective endeavours and embraced their differences and personal strength. Even in adulthood, she was connected with them daily, often sending loving text messages in the morning, wishing everyone in their respective households a great day. She valued each of her children and grandchildren’s unique personalities and accomplishments, both big and small, and they remember her warm smile, her calm demeanor and patience, and how she often had a treat for them and always a pack of gum.

It is in that spirit that her family invites you to remember her love of children by contributing to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation:

https://fondationduchildren.com/en/fundraising/in-memory-of-diana-common-dempsey