June 25, 1960 ~ October 31, 2023
With broken hearts we announce the passing of Dianne Mitchell of Cambridge on October 31, 2023 at Freeport Hospital Palliative Care Unit after a courageous 3 1/2 year battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.
She will be sadly missed by her loving partner of 35 years, Daniel Ruller. She is survived by her mother, Kathryn Perry, her father, Jim Perry (Eileen), sisters Susan Hoffman (Allen) and Linda Bourne (Terry Lyttle), daughter Anjela Ruller (Matt Turcotte), son Cory Ruller (Angelique Hendershot), grandchildren Tatum and Ripken. Auntie Dianne will also be missed by nieces Melissa Perry, Sara Hoffman and nephew Cory Dunne.
In August, when Dianne became hospitalized, her lifelong friend, Janet Ferraz, came from her new home in the Azores (Terceira) to support her. They had a special time together.
Dianne worked as a senior secretary at various branches of the WRPS for 14 years. She and Dan then opened a Sears Dealer Store in Woodstock and operated it for 10 years before taking early retirement.
The families island cottage near Whitefish Falls was one of Dianne’s favourite places. She loved picking blueberries, boating, kayaking, enjoying sunsets and searching for interesting driftwood pieces to refinish and make into decor. Each year she would look for the loon pair – Charlie & Charlene.
For the past few years Dianne enjoyed spending a lot of her time doing jigsaw puzzles or even more enjoyable would be for her to be in her rocking chair on her backyard patio with her coffee, crossword book, and smokes. She fed peanuts to the bluejays, cardinals and other animals that came to visit her – even the deer. Her home was her happy place. Dianne loved to bring old things back to life, from refinishing or reupholstering furniture, to renovating houses. She got great satisfaction from painting and was very fussy about how it should be done. She was so gentle, so honest, so unique. She wanted to help everyone. Sweet and sincere and her dry sense of humour was hilarious. She would tell you in black and white terms exactly what she thought, and she was more often than not, right.
Dianne talked of joining her beloved cats, Fluffer, Toby and Charlie at the "rainbow bridge" one day.
The family thanks the wonderful caregivers Dianne had during her past few years – Dr. D. Humphrey, Hamilton General Hospital, Juravinski Cancer Center, Grand River Hospital and especially the Freeport Hospital Palliative Care staff.
Even though Dianne is gone, she will live in our hearts and memories forever.
In accordance with Dianne’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com).
Memorial contributions to the Canadian Cancer Society or Freeport Hospital would be appreciated.
"And they all said, ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ as if you were someone who could ever be taken from me.” ~Robert Brault
A tree will be planted in memory of Dianne L. Mitchell in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.
