It is with great sadness that the family of Margaret Diana Bellerby (nee Kindersley) announce her death on Vancouver Island at the age of 92 on December 15, 2017, after a short illness. Di was born in Vancouver but was raised in the Montreal area, first on a farm outside Valois, then in Westmount. She met her husband, Gordon, in 1947. He was working his way from England to New Zealand, but he decided instead to stay, and marry the first girl he’d met! It was a wise choice: their marriage lasted until his death, almost 55 years. Di was mother to Guy (Peggy), Nancy (Mark Melcher) and Amanda, grandmother to Kim, Shae, Graeme and Lyam, and great-grandmother to Lucy, Toby and Naomi.

A graduate of Valentine’s School of Commercial Art, Di was a painter at heart. Her favourite medium was oil paint, but she also used acrylics and watercolours in a style reminiscent of Group of Seven. Her paintings hang in many public and private collections. She worked for many years at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) as an Education Officer. Di also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University). The AGO Art Rental department accepted several of her paintings for their inventory. During this period she also conducted art tours in France, Italy and Spain.

After moving to Niagara-on-the-Lake upon Gordon’s retirement, she rented studio space in the town’s disused waterworks building on the waterfront. Recognizing the potential of the lovely old building as an artists’ workshop and gallery space, she was an influential partner behind the establishment of the Niagara Pumphouse Visual Arts Centre, 247 Ricardo Street. She also was a founding lecturer for the highly successful Niagara Study Group. She sang with the Evergreen Singers and volunteered with the Niagara Historical Society.

Cremation and a private family service have occurred. Friends are invited to join a memorial gathering on April 7, 2018, at the Pumphouse from 1 to 4 PM, to share stories and celebrate Di’s life. Her remains will be buried beside her beloved Gordo. Please, no flowers. Instead, Mum would be thrilled if donations were made in her name to the Couchiching Conservancy, to preserve and protect the Carden Plain Important Bird Area: www.couchichingconserv.ca

Offer Condolence for the family of Diana Bellerby