Diane Wiesner

Mary “Diane” Wiesner (nee Alsbury) was born in 1935, to Mildred Caroline Alsbury and former

Vancouver Mayor Albert Thomas “Tom” Alsbury. Diane grew up in Kerrisdale and enjoyed a very loving

and active upbringing along with her older brother Bruce, with a passion for political and social

conversation from a young age. Her parents often reminisced about their house being abuzz with the

energy and conversation of Diane and her friends.

Diane was a proud graduate of the University of British Columbia and won the British Columbia Parent-

Teacher Federation Prize of $100 for heading the Graduating Class in Home Economics in 1956.

Diane first met her soul-mate, Walter “Walt” Wiesner on a summer job in Bowen Island when she was

17, and they married 4 years later in 1956, shortly after graduating from UBC. Diane and Walt moved to

Nanaimo that year where he was working for his lifelong employer, MacMillan Bloedel. There they

raised daughter Maria (born 1958) and son Bruce (born 1965), moving to Coquitlam in 1970. Many

great memories of the family exist with summer vacations at Tigh-Na-Mara in Parksville, and later

Hawaii. Diane loved hosting family gatherings, and Christmas in particular was a special time for her and

the family.

Like her father, Diane was very passionate about social causes and extremely empathetic to those who

did not have an easy path in life. Always leaning left in the political spectrum, she enjoyed challenging

her husband Walt on his much more conservative views. As a young mother, she was particularly active

in the United Church while living in Nanaimo and Coquitlam. She spent countless hours supporting

Church youth outreach in the community, supporting many church events, and contributing readings to

church services on multiple occasions. Diane was always there for her children, driving them to their

lessons and activities in her infamous lemon-yellow 1973 Mercury Comet.

With Maria and Bruce off to University, Diane and Walt enjoyed his early retirement, and were avid

travelers and cruisers. After Walt lost his battle with cancer in 1993, Diane continued to volunteer in the

community, supporting English as a second language programs working directly with new Canadians,

and volunteering at the Terry Fox Foundation offices for many years.

Diane enjoyed her home in Coquitlam so very much, inheriting her mother’s deep passion for gardening

and took great joy from her vast yard, and all the flowers, trees and greenery it contained in its amazing

gardens. She was a beloved Nana to her grand-children John, Holden and Helena. Her abundant energy

in later life allowed her to keep up with her young grandchildren in activities even when their parents

could not. After almost 30 years of living independently in her beloved home, Diane spent her final

years at Tapestry at UBC and finally South Granville Park Lodge.

She remained feisty, spirited and lovingly devoted to her family her entire life.

(Maria and Bruce would like to send a special thank-you on behalf of the family to the devoted staff at

South Granville Park Lodge for their compassionate care. There will be a Memorial celebrating Diane’s

life later this Summer).