Diana Averill Kramer (nee Phipps) died peacefully following a series of strokes on July 25, 2023, with husband Ernst, daughter Averill, and dog Polly by her side in her Vancouver home. She was 86.
Diana was deeply loved by Ernst, children Nicolaas, Stewart (Rosanne) and Averill (Tom), stepson Ernst (Mariette), and all her grandchildren.
Daughter of Stewart and Frances Phipps, and beloved sister of Barbara, Diana spent her early life in Western Canada. She raised her own family in New York and the Netherlands before settling on Salt Spring Island for more than 30 years with the love of her life, Ernst, with whom she spent 48 happy and adventure-filled years.
An incredibly open, warm, and generous spirit, Diana made life-long friendships everywhere she went. Known widely as ‘”Dinny,” she was a fiercely loyal and caring friend to those she met in Winnipeg, New York, the Netherlands, Palm Springs, Salt Spring, and Vancouver. She highly valued her phone calls, correspondence, and dinners with her friends, relationships she happily nurtured her entire life.
Diana loved the added community and music of the Anglican Church that she shared with Ernst. She was an active person, always attracted to the more social aspects of tennis, golf, bridge, and walking her dogs to Nose Point. She was an excellent interior decorator, gardener and cook, and enjoyed painting portraits and landscapes.
Diana loved beautiful things including flowers, dogs, parties, and, above all, her grandchildren. She bore the loss of her eyesight over the past few years with courage, remaining a wonderful conversationalist full of breezy wit and quirky turns of phrase.
Diana will be deeply missed.
A ceremony will be held on Salt Spring Island at a time to be announced. In lieu of flowers please hug your pet, admire a plant, share a meal with a loved one.
I was so very sorry to hear of Diana’s passing. She was a welcome addition to her church and the community she lived in.