Diane Gerhard

Born in London, Ontario on April 2, 1943, she spent her childhood in Delhi, Ontario, living in the house on The Brantford Road, that her dad built. Early on the family lived in the garage while the house was being build. Growing up, Diane, middle sister Jan, and cousin Pat were an inseparable trio. Together, they had perfect attendance at Sunday School, and attended the one room Delhi Gothic School. Diane skipped a grade to graduate in 1960 as valedictorian. She went on to attend McMaster University, completing a bachelor's degree in Biology (1964) followed by a Master of Science in Molecular Biology (1966). While in high school, she worked in tobacco as part of the harvest gang, and during University she worked summers at the experimental farm in Delhi.

Diane married Arthur Gerhard on June 4 1966, in St. Alban’s Anglican Church in Delhi with a reception in the garden of her parents house. They lived in Burlington where she taught high school. In 1968, they moved to Winnipeg when Arthur joined the faculty at the University of Manitoba. Diane taught math and science at Vincent Massey.

Diane and Arthur welcomed Adam (1972) and David (1974) into the world. From 1972 until the early 1980’s Diane took a break from teaching to raise her boys. She spent those years traveling to and from the boat, visiting family, volunteering, and being a mom. Diane loved her boys, remaining deeply involved in their lives and activities even as they grew up and had families of their own.

She returned to teaching through Institutional Programs with the Winnipeg School Division. She ended up working at Villa Rosa, a school for pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers. She taught math and science there, and loved the one-on-one aspect of the job. She had a lasting impact on many of the young mothers, providing stability and much needed support. She retired from teaching in 1999.

In her early 30s, Diane was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and it ravaged her body. At the time, the treatment was 12 aspirin per day. Consequently, she developed significant deformities in her hands and feet, but she never complained. In 2007, she developed lung involvement which further limited her abilities, but she remained a tenacious force of positivity. She would not be held back from doing the things she loved, even if the disease changed how she experienced them. She began to organize the people around her to do the things she wanted to see happen, and she would participate by sharing their joy.

Diane was a dedicated volunteer. She was chair of the board at Westminster United during their centennial year, and she helped lead Celebration Worship, an influential alternative service at Westminster. She was involved in numerous committees across and throughout the United Church including her UCW ‘radical non-unit’ which became an enormous source of strength and support for her. She was “Rainbow” in Beavers when her boys were young; she was Cruising Director of Northern Yacht Club; she authored a series of Lake of the Woods cruise guide articles for Canadian Yachting; and she contributed articles about many anchorages in “the Blue Book” - Northern Yacht Club’s membership guidebook. She spent many hours volunteering for the Arthritis Society. As a member of the Canadian Arthritis Network, she contributed to the evaluation of research grants. Recently she and Arthur enjoyed working with Patient Partners, helping medical students gain experience working with patients.

Diane loved boats and sailing, and spent every weekend from early May until the beginning of September sailing on Lake of the Woods with Arthur and the boys on their boats Abracadabra and then Shadowfax. In 1987, they bought “The Cottage” (which resisted several attempts to affix a better name) and this place quickly became her favourite place, central for many youth group weekends, family visits, and general summer activity. She loved The Cottage because it allowed her to surround herself with family and friends who would visit, and to enjoy all the activity, clamor and wonderful chaos that would bring. In the last few years, she and Arthur found joy in travelling, visiting Europe, England, and many places in the United States and Canada. In 2016, as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, they recreated their honeymoon to Williamsburg, and only two weeks ago, Diane and Arthur celebrated her birthday in Maui.

Diane was a positive, loving, supportive, strong woman. She found out the best in situations and brought out the best in people. She helped others simply because that is what you did. She was personally invested in her friends and family. She was a connector, bringing people together. She built community, strengthened ties, and reinforced heritage. She taught us the importance of hospitality. She reveled in the complicated plan. She found joy in sharing joy. She was a special soul who made a difference in the lives of the people who were lucky enough to know her.

She will be profoundly missed by her husband, Arthur and her sons Adam and David, and her daughters-in-law Kristine and Tricia; grandchildren Sophia, Jacob, Matthew and Rachel; Sisters Jan (Roy) and Chris (Alan); nephews and nieces and their families: Andrew, Rachel, Rex and Graham; Christopher, Shannon, Liam and Ava; Jonathan and Sam; Kevin and Liz; Shirley and Jennifer; Aunts Doreen and Audrey and their families; and countless family and friends from here to England. Her family and friends were so very important to Diane and were a wellspring of joy and fulfilment for her.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 17 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard.

A service of celebration will be held at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, April 18 Westminster United Church, 745 Westminster Avenue, with a reception to follow.

Interment will take place in Delhi, Ontario at a date to be confirmed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Society.