Diane Browne

It is with great sadness but much love that we say goodbye to our sweet mother, Diane Browne, social butterfly extraordinaire. At 84, after an inspiring battle with Pancreatic Cancer, mom received her Angel wings and went home to God on September 30, 2024. Diane showed her incredible bravery over the course of the illness, refusing to give up, and in her final days welcomed over sixty-five visitors, accepted numerous phone calls, and was so very grateful for all the flowers, cards, and food for her caregivers. All the gestures of care helped bring comfort, not just to her, but to the whole family.

Mom was born on January 1st, 1940, in Montreal, Quebec. She spent almost six months at the La Crèche d’Youville Orphanage before her parents fell in love with her already outgoing personality and brought her home to Western Ave (now boul. de Maisonneuve), in NDG, her beloved life-long community. Her mother’s family was very close-knit; they enjoyed many happy memories at her maternal grandmother’s home on Prince Albert Ave in Westmount. Mom shared so many stories of her youth, playing with her cousins as a young child, falling asleep in the back room with them after many family parties, family members living at her grandmother’s home if they needed somewhere to stay temporarily. She described her family as filled with pure love.

As mom got older and started school she had no end of friends. After school they would play at NDG Park and skate too in winter, on weekends there were movies in Church basements or at the nearby theatre. This is when she started going to eat with her friend, Louise, at what would become her favourite eatery, the Chalet BBQ. Louise’s family owned it, and she still owns it today. In their teenage years there were many care free days and fun parties with lots of laughter at friend’s homes. But it wasn’t all play. With her friend, Luanne, and many others from the community, she attended Girl Guide camp every summer. They bonded more like sisters and learned many skills that mom would say served her well into adulthood.

Mom was very proud of her family’s Scottish and Irish heritage. She was a competitive Highland dancer as a teenager and she was very good at it. Her love of dance continued in her early adult years and beyond with a mean jitterbug that turned heads. Mom often joked that her favourite subject in school was PhysEd. Her love of being active and eating healthy stayed strong over the years as she worked out regularly. In her later years she walked often and very fast. Before health issues reared up in 2021 we couldn’t keep up with her. We all called her the Energizer Bunny.

Mom’s parents’ love for her was unconditional. They supported her and our father, Roger Larocque, as they started their family a little earlier than expected. Unfortunately mom’s father passed away before their first was born, and six months later our dad’s father also passed away. And when their fifth born was only two years old, mom lost her mother as well. She and dad both spoke with us about how hard that was on them. They did not have an easy start and life was quite tough at times, but in their senior years, both single and content, they certainly thrived, and at important times came together for their children. Though she brought only five children into the world, mom came to embrace a sixth as her own as well, our father’s daughter, our sister, Tara. Mom was there for us always and in many ways. In 2008, when our dad was fighting and lost his battle to blood cancer she was often at hospital to support us. It brought us all closer together and we are forever grateful.

Mom took great pride in her work ethic, especially as a long-time Records Clerk with Atomic Energy of Canada. She was praised for how diligently she performed her duties, and no matter how stressful at times it was always with a smile. Mom worked closely with Maria, her boss for many of the years, and Jamie, her sweetest co-worker. They became closer after leaving AECL and our family is blessed to call them very special friends still today. After her and some of her co-workers retired (some were still there) they formed a group to come together for yearly reunions. Mom so looked forward to them. Yet more special times in her life.

Mom was also meticulous in caring for herself and in keeping a beautiful home. We called her apartment a “show home” and we weren’t joking. She often helped others care for and organize their homes as well. She never asked for a penny. Mom deeply loved and cherished her closest friendships, many of which lasted a lifetime. One of these was with her best friend of 71 years, Brenda Holdbrook. After Brenda’s passing in 2021 she continued that close bond with the Holdbrook/Bellini family, especially Brenda’s daughter, Debbie, who called her mom too.

Mom also adored animals of all sorts. In the 35 years she lived on Benny Crescent she was quite active in caring for and rescuing stray cats with the help of her neighbours. They worked with the SPCA to have them sterilized and always left food out for them. She loved to tell the story of once petting a skunk because she forgot her glasses and it was dark outside. It apparently liked her friendly voice because she didn’t get sprayed. Even before losing her own two cats she was always excited to babysit her grand-furkids whenever she was asked. We truly had a “good mother”. She was generous, thoughtful and kind.

In later years, thanks to her friend, Gail, mom became and was super proud of her time as a member of the United Irish Society, attending meetings and walking every year in the St Patrick’s Day Parade, both in Montreal and Quebec City. She was happy when her daughter, Tracy, joined as well, and that she would be continuing to take part as an active member and Parade Marshal.

Mom was close with all of her children. With Cliff, her eldest, she attended church every Sunday and they had lunch together afterwards, and no matter where others were in the world on Holidays, Cliff never missed one with her. With Tom and Tatum, mom enjoyed visits to Toronto where they’d treat her to meals at his restaurants, and the last few times she laughed til it hurt at his Comedy club. She was so grateful for the times she joined them on trips to St Maarten for vitamin sea. With Roger Jr, they bonded over their love of fine food, him cooking it and her eating it, lol, and with Gary, her youngest son, there was always an adventure, and daily phone check ins were his way of showing how much he loved her. With Tracy, Mary and Tara, she was always ensured a good laugh while galavanting near and far.

Five and a half years ago, mom moved to the unique community of St Patrick’s Square in Cote St Luc (she considered it still NDG since it was directly across the street). She enjoyed all the many activities that were organized, like Vittles on Wednesdays, Coffee Fridays, dances, holiday parties, and so much more. She regularly socialized with her bevy of friends. Mom told us St. Pat’s would be her last home, and in her last months she spent many beautiful days of summer in the gorgeous gardens with loving support and care from all who sat with her.

Mom is pre-deceased by her parents, Frederick Browne and Marion Cox, her daughter-in-law, Tatum, her grandson, Noah, her honourary Godparents, Uncle Jack and Aunty Kathleen, close cousins, Doreen and Bruce, Melvyn, Ronnie and Beverley, She is survived by her six children, Cliff, Tommy, Roger Jr, Gary, Tracy (Mary), and Tara (Ralph); her grandchildren, Harley (and mom, Christine), Jesse (Victoria), Brandon, Mia, and Nick; close cousins, Sharon and Kevin, Susan (Denis) and Larraine, and many more amazing cousins. She was honourary Granny to Charlie and Sophie.

Our family would like to thank the emergency doctors, nurses and staff at both the Montreal General and Royal Victoria Hospitals. You made mom feel as comfortable as possible at a very fragile and uncertain time. We are forever grateful for the close to three years of care received from Dr. Chaudhury, Dr. Barkun and the Hepato Pancreato-Biliary Surgical team. Over the last five months she was lovingly cared for by the Oncology team of Andreanne, NP, and Dr. Asselah, the Palliative Care Outpatient team, and the many Chemo nurses. Our deepest gratitude as well to the many residents, interns, nurses, PABs and support staff of the Cedar’s Cancer Centre and Unit C-10 North, as well as Palliative doctors, Dr. Cyr and Dr. Sanders. And a very special thank you to Virginia Lee, friend of the family, who arranged for very caring support services in mom’s very last days.

Funeral services for our mom, Diane, will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024, 11am, at Madison Baptist Church, 6297 Monkland Ave, Montreal, QC, H4B 1G8, with Pastor Fortis Mathieu officiating. Interment will follow the next day, Friday, October 18, 2024, 1:45pm, at Urgel Bourgie - Montreal Memorial Garden and Funeral  Complex, 3955, chemin Cote de Liesse, Saint Laurent, QC, H4N 2N6. Should you wish to attend the interment you are most welcome. Please meet at the main building so we can all walk together to mom’s final resting place.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her memory, to:

The Terry Fox Foundation for Cancer Research, online: https://terryfox.org/?form=GENERAL

And/or, The Montreal SPCA, online: https://www.spca.com/donnez/