Diane E. Aboud

Diane Aboud (nee Nairne)

Sept 25, 1945 – Sept 26, 2026

Diane passed away peacefully at home in Ottawa shortly after her 60^th Wedding Anniversary and her 81^st birthday.Her family were at her side as they were throughout her courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

She leaves to mourn her husband Ray, and children David (Jazmin), Susan (Aron), Brian, Grandson Olafur (Oli) and GrandDog Freyja. She was pre-deceased by her Mother Edna and Father Ronald George (Din).She also leaves behind her Brother Craig (Carole) and Sister Deb (Blair), as well as many nieces, nephews & countless others she loved so dearly.

Diane grew up in Snowflake, Manitoba, a tiny community of 47 souls on the Manitoba-North Dakota border, attending the two room school there through grades 1 to 8, completing High School at Pilot Mound.

She graduated from the St. Boniface Hospital School of Nursing in Winnipeg and began a more than 40 year career as an OR Nurse in Winnipeg and at Ottawa’s Riverside Hospital, retiring in 2013.

She met her future husband Ray in 1964 at an “exuberant” Grey Cup party in Winnipeg.They were married less than two years later at the Manitou United Church before settling in Winnipeg.

During the early years of their marriage, Diane enjoyed canoeing and fishing trips to remote lakes with Ray, and dinners with friends. Her encouragement and support helped her husband complete University degrees in Winnipeg and Ottawa.

Kindness, caring and decency were Diane’s calling cards as the winds and whims of life and careers took the family to Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Halifax and back to Winnipeg in 1980. Their three children were born in different cities:David in Winnipeg, Susan in Toronto and Brian in Halifax.They settled in Ottawa in 1985 on Ingram Crescent.

Diane made lifelong friends everywhere including the hospitals she served as an OR Nurse. At times she was a Girl Guide & Beavers leader, among the many other activities she did alongside her children.She was also a top fundraiser for the MS Society of Ottawa.

She enjoyed the company of friends and neighbours, long walks along the Ottawa River, reading mystery novels into the night, playing cribbage with her family, simple pub lunches on their Anniversaries, and the company of Quincy and Casey, the two shelties who were part of her family for many years. She enjoyed music of every kind especially Elvis, The Beatles, Tony Bennett, Roy Orbison & the Traveling Wilburys. She also enjoyed live entertainment such as Les Miserables and other Broadway shows, live concerts by Billy Joel and others, and performances by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

And she loved to travel, first with their children on memorable camping trips in Manitoba and Ontario and the “relaxing” family treks to Florida theme parks.Later, Diane and Ray found pleasure in Caribbean cruises and assorted adventures in New England, New York, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Hawaii –as well as longer trips to the UK, Paris and Rome.

She will be remembered as a true Life Force, a source of compassion for those who were suffering in any way. She personified the Golden Rule as an Operating Room Nurse and a human being.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all of the wonderful healthcare providers (Doctors, Nurses, PSW’s & Co-ordinators) for their compassion and support during the last several months.A special Thanks to Dr. Jim Watterson, The Ottawa Cancer Centre, Carefor & Ontario Health at Home.And a very special Thank You to Dr. Jennifer Brodeur of Bytown Palliative Medicine for helping Diane to receive the best possible care at home.Finally, a heartfelt Thank You to all of Diane’s incredible friends, colleagues & neighbours for their love & kindness to Diane and our Family.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no burial service or funeral.Her ashes will rest with her family.A Celebration of Diane’s Life will be held on Sunday October 25^th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm at the Mill Street Brew Pub in Ottawa.

Those wishing to honour Diane’s life and work may do so by with a contribution in her name to the Canadian Cancer Society, MS Canada, the Ottawa Food Bank or Carefor.

“Nothing stays the same

The World is in flux always

This is its gift

This is its burden too”

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