It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dianne Eckersley (née Shirley Dianne Brown). Born in 1936 in Val d’Or Québec, Dianne was the eldest child of Clifford and Alberta Brown. She spent most of her life in Willowdale, where she attended Earl Haig Collegiate Institute and met Bill, her husband of sixty-five years, at a Thanksgiving dance at Willowdale Presbyterian Church. Having trained at Toronto Teacher’s College, Dianne taught at Burnett Public School and worked for the North York Board of Education’s Science Loan Centre. A consummate entertainer, Dianne was renowned for her delicious meals and baked goods, especially enjoyed by the crew of Gone with the Wind. In her spare time, she loved gardening and taking care of the neighbourhood cats. Dianne travelled extensively, taking several European river cruises and spending thirty-three winters in Portugal with her husband, Bill.

Dianne was the beloved wife of the late Bill Eckersley (2024), proud mother of Tracey (Dave), Robert (Teresa), devoted grandmother of Peter and Sarah, and cherished sister of Murray Brown.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Dianne on Saturday February 22 at 1pm at York Cemetery (160 Beecroft Rd, North York, ON M2N 1W7).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Toronto Humane Society: https://torontohumanesociety.donorsupport.co/-/NKFZFPVP