Gaetz, Diana Beverly – It is with profound sadness that we announce that the light of our lives passed away suddenly in the late evening of January 18, 2021. Diana Beverly Gaetz (Myers), age 79, born in Kentville, passed away surrounded by her loving family, leaving us all, for now at least, a bit in the dark.
Diana, Mom, had a difficult but interesting early life. Born into a world at war to father, Vincent Martell Myers, a Merchant Mariner, and mother, Rita Catherine Harris, who died when Mom was only two years old. While her father continued his war efforts, she was lovingly cared for by her grandmother and two aunts until her father met and married Anna Laird Hanshaw (Nanny Myers), in Halifax in 1947. This union resulted in the birth of Mom’s pride and joy: her sister, Barbara Steele (Myers), who currently resides in Ontario.
Mom's Dad, a gentle soul, was also a bit of a gypsy and the next several years were spent travelling between numerous addresses in Toronto and Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. Mom eventually settled and remained on the Eastern Shore where she entered a secretarial program at Halifax Vocational School, finishing at the top of her class. Shortly afterwards this outgoing, fun loving, beautiful young women met a handsome, roguish, Chezzetcooker, Wayne Melvin Gaetz, and began a 62-year love affair. Dad’s mother, Leva Gaetz; father, Andrew; and siblings soon became the focal point of their life.
We, the kids, came regularly at two-year intervals. Mom gave us extremely loving, supportive, intelligent, relaxed care. Mom was happiest with her head in a book or when socializing with the other Moms in the neighbourhood; all of them ignoring their broods busily terrorizing one another.
Mom kept busy doing substitute teaching at the High School. Soon she began employment at the Head Chezzetcook Post Office, where she loved spending time with the public and her coworkers, many of whom became good friends.
Dad built a cottage on Sole's Lake in the late 70's and it became the focal point of much of the family social life. Mom absolutely loved it there. She may have been a mermaid in a past life because that woman swam and floated half the summers away for the last 50 years. In her last few years Mom’s passion for swimming continued at her daughter, Rosalie’s, pool.
Once her life and family were well settled, ironically, the gypsy genes she inherited from her father began to emerge and her passion for travel began. She and Dad were always packing us kids into the car for road trips, including regular trips to visit her Toronto family. As life got a bit more comfortable the travels grew more adventurous. She eventually cajoled Dad into a European adventure with Uncle Reid and Aunt Marion. That only whetted her appetite. When her son began a career in the airlines in the mid-eighties her wanderlust truly took off: Italy, France, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Hawaii, Bermuda, Mexico. When the son didn't take her for a while the daughters were drafted, resulting in trips to Florida, Iceland, Mexico, Cuba, the Bahamas, and an Alaskan and Mediterranean cruise. She was a fearless traveler! Snorkel a reef in Mexico or Bermuda, you bet! Parasail behind a speedboat, oh yeah! Cable car to some of the highest peaks of Switzerland, absolutely! When she wasn’t travelling abroad, it was back to the car for local adventures with Uncle Duke, Aunt Anna, Reid and Marion. When age and health problems slowed her down it was shorter car trips with her family.
A nature-lover – in the extreme – she never failed to marvel at Nature’s endless artistry: a billowy cloud in an azure sky; the crashing surf along the Eastern Shore’s many beaches; the slender beauty of a white birch tree; or her many “pet” spiders and crows. She especially savored Nova Scotia’s splendor during her weekly “Thelma & Louise” drives with her fabulous friend Ann Ferguson. Over the past few years Mom (Thelma) and Ann (Louise) traipsed nearly every paved - and the odd unpaved - road in the province, sampling the food at every fish and chips place along the way.
Mom will be forever cherished in the memories of her husband, Wayne; sister, Barbara Steele (Jack), Mississauga; us kids, Michelle Gaetz-Wolfe (Greg), Rosalie Gaetz-Keating (Grant), Bradley (Solveig Madsen), Heidi Wolfe (David), and Holli Burnett (Derek), all in Head Chezzetcook; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will also be sorely missed by her cat, Maggie.
She was an amazing Mom, and maybe an even more amazing grandmother and great- grandmother. Her greatest joy was actively playing with and caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We would be remiss if we did not mention Mom’s profound sense of humour and contagious laughter. She was a warm, kind, caring, uncritical friend to so many. A role model. We were blessed. Everyone she touched was blessed.
A private ceremony will be held for the immediate family only, because of COVID-19 restrictions.
In lieu of flowers our family asks that you please make a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia or a charity of your choice.
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