Mrs. Dianne Marie Johnson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dianne Marie Johnson (McManus) on June 25th, 2013, after a short but courageous battle with cancer. Dianne was born April 2nd, 1947, in Perth, Ontario. She is lovingly remembered by her devoted husband, Al, and her two children, Marc (Amy) and Alana (Louis). “Nana” was adored by her three eldest grandchildren: Magnus (Johnson), Alexandra (Pahis) and Danica (Pahis). It saddened her that she never had the chance to hold her other two grandchildren, recently-born granddaughter Ada (Johnson) and her unborn grandson (Pahis). She leaves three brothers: David, Bruce and Michael McManus, and one sister, Elaine Pollen (Tunnicliff). While working for a few years in the banking industry, Dianne met her husband, Al Johnson. They were married on January 8th, 1966, and together they started a family. While the children were young, Dianne also attended post-secondary classes to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist - a career that she loved and that lasted more than 35 years. Dianne was selfless and always looked for ways to help family and friends. Loving and courageous, she leaves a legacy of strength and dignity that will enable us all to carry on without our wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews as well as the numerous friends she made throughout her life. Family and friends were the key to Dianne’s happiness. Her life revolved around those loved ones. Those left behind can take comfort in the knowledge that in this regard, Dianne lived a full and complete life. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral service. We will all strive to follow two of the principles by which she lived. She lived life with gusto, and when confronted with difficult or daunting tasks, Dianne’s response was always “just do it” and then she would take on and meet one goal at a time. The overall principle that guided her through life was “always do the right thing.” You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back or you can open your eyes and see all she's left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see her or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her and only cause she's gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Mrs. Dianne Marie Johnson

June 25, 2013