Diane Morin, 78, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2026, surrounded by love, laughter, and family. Quiet and shy by nature, she never liked being the centre of attention. I’m going to risk her future disappointment and share a few of the things that made her so well loved — move her to centre stage for a few sentences.

Born in Park Valley on June 1, 1947, Diane rarely spoke about her childhood. Her mother, Irene Campbell (Dubuque), passed when she was very young, and her father, John Campbell, worked hard as a hunter and trapper to raise a large family. Eventually, Welfare intervened and the siblings were separated into different homes. She spent time living with the Jones family in Weirdale, and it would be years — and a great deal of effort from her older siblings — before the family found its way back to one another. Those early hardships shaped her quiet strength and her fierce loyalty to family.

Diane married Joe Morin on May 1, 1964. They shared ten good years and ten tumultuous ones before parting ways, but together they raised four children, shared many laughs, and built a lifetime of memories. One of her quirks from those early days was sneaking a jar of sauerkraut into movie theatres. While Dad might smuggle in a “liquid refreshment,” she preferred sauerkraut over popcorn.

Both families were deeply connected to the logging industry, and the northern forests and lakes were places she loved. Big River and Meadow Lake were the primary communities where she and Joe raised their family. After the divorce, she moved to Prince Albert and Paddockwood, working as a logging camp cook and a northern lake resort cleaner before retiring.

She was an excellent cook — which made it all the more shocking when, shortly before her passing, she confided that she had always hated cooking. One of the mainstays of my world fell away in that moment. She also had a wonderful sense of humour, a love of order, and a spotless home. My sisters and I would like to say we inherited that trait, but her wooden spoon taught us to tell the truth.

When she moved into hospice, the first thing she asked for was a broom. She spent her time tidying her already immaculate room. Cleanliness, care, and routine were her comforts — but time with family was what she valued most. She loved visiting her daughters and son and being an integral part of her grandchildren’s lives.

Diane was predeceased by her parents, John and Irene Campbell, her brother John, and her sister Dorothy.

She is survived by her son, Stan Morin (Nancy), and her daughters, Luanne Price (Joe), Jayne Albers (Clint), and Dorothy “Dodie” Davis (Leroy). While Luanne, Dodie, and I moved to exotic places like Lloydminster, Sherwood Park, and Saskatoon, Jayne and Mom lived in the same communities — Paddockwood and Prince Albert. She loved all her children, but in many ways Jayne’s kids became hers too, and it would be remiss not to mention the special connection she had with them: AJ, Melissa (Matt), Joey (Dani), Lairen (Frankie), Jordy (Michael), and Janaya (Logan).

She also cherished her grandchildren Nathaniel, Charidee, Airik (Jacey), Hillary, Riley, Kennedy, and Lilah. Diane is further survived by her siblings Maria, Ray (Janet), Ben (Virginia), Wil, and George (Patricia), as well as several great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Rose Garden Hospice in Prince Albert for their care and attention in her last days. A couple of days before she passed, her room was filled with family. My sister Dodie and two of my aunts all had birthdays — we brought in a cake, sang “Happy Birthday,” and she roused from her sleep to smile and ask for a piece. Family and love to the end.

Cancer remains a dark reality for many families, and it claimed her from ours. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society to help fund research toward a cure would be appreciated.

A potluck celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 30 at 2:00 PM at the Paddockwood Hall. She always loved a good wiener roast.

God Bless, Mom — and sorry for making you the centre of attention for this short bit about a truly remarkable and well lived life.

• Date : 2026-04-29