GREEN, Diana

GREEN (Kanigan) 1956 – 2024 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of DIANA LYNN HELEN GREEN (nee Kanigan), beloved daughter of the late Lola Lonsdale (nee Queener), at her home in Lethbridge, on Monday, June 24, 2024 at the age of 68 years.
Di is survived by her half-sister, Deb Panczak, nephew Trevor (Amber) Panczak, her niece Shauna Panczak (Dustin Gruninger) and her great nephews, Nash, Colter and Braxton. She is also survived by her dear friend Trish Mehrer and her family, as well as numerous relatives and cousins.
She was predeceased by her estranged father Samuel Kanigan, her beloved mother Lola Lonsdale (2016), husband James D. Green (1990) “favorite” brother-in-law Johnny Panczak (2003) and her cherished friend Carol Beluch (2020).
Di grew up in the Warner area, went to school and graduated there. She got her Dietary Certification and worked at St. Michaels Hospital and the Lethbridge Regional Hospital for many years. With her cheerful, spunky and creative side, she brought a lot of joy to those around her. For instance, she was always one to dress up for occasions like Easter and Christmas and bring treats to staff and brighten the days of her colleagues and patients alike.
After retiring from the hospital, she went to work as a personal care attendant for Carol Beluch, who had severe Cerebral Palsy. Carol simply became part of the family. There’s no doubt that from the loving, heightened level care that Di provided and the friendship that developed between them, Carol’s life was extended dramatically. She went on to live decades longer than expected. Di and Lola looked out for each other always. Di took care of Lola as she became elderly. They were close and losing grandma really affected her. She wouldn’t have traded the experience because that’s just part of who Di was in life, a caregiver. It takes a special kind of person to be in that field or have that mind set and Diana was extraordinary at it. She brought light into the dark and with her cool and quirky ways could make the saddest person smile and forget their troubles for a while.
Di loved animals. She had turtles, fish and throughout her life, she was rarely without a dog. Big Red, Sage, Murphy, Spiker, Simon, and Hardly all felt the love that Di was so willing to give. Di loved to dance. She loved music. She was folk, rock and country. She was talented and shared it with those she cared about most. She loved photography and videography. She was a prankster. She was humorous. She enjoyed card and board games and sharing or hearing clean or dirty jokes with others. She had a laugh all her own. She was crafty. Di was handy. She was like a girl MacGyver. She could fix stuff most people would throw away. She was adventurous. She was the cool aunt. She could sew. She could bake. She could cook. She was beautiful and had long flowing blond hair that she grew down to her waist for many years. She had her opinions, and wouldn’t take anyone’s guff. If she made her mind up about something, there was no shifting it. She had a spark to her. She supported the underdog. She was patriotic. She was smart. She was loveable and wanted to be loved.
In her final years, her health deteriorated and she lost a lot of her mojo. But not enough that she wouldn’t say to her trusted neighbours, “Hey, if you don’t see the curtains open/close it probably means I croaked.” She felt comfort in knowing she had some good neighbours that would check in on her. She passed alone at home but was found soon after and received love and prayer from the people closest to her. She will be missed, cherished and will continue to be loved as the years pass by.
A public Graveside Service will be held, where Di will be laid to rest with her late husband Jim Green in MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY, 1210 – Scenic Drive South, Lethbridge, AB, on Monday, July 8, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. with Patrick Siedlecki officiating. For those who wish to attend the Graveside Service, please meet at the front cemetery gates at 10:50 A.M.
In memory of Diana, donations may be made in her name to The Salvation Army (donate.salvationarmy.ca) or Cerebral Palsy (cpalberta.com/donate-now)
To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com