Obituary of Emma Diane Fotheringhame

FOTHERINGHAME: Emma Diane Fotheringhame ( 17th Sept. 1934 - 8th Mar. 2013 ) Diane passed away peacefully after a long illness. Her daughter Maggie and her husband John were at her hospital bedside at the time of her passing. Diane was born in the village of Crandall, Manitoba. Her parents were Olive and George Dibblee. Mr Dibblee was the school principal. He was a WW1 veteran who was wounded four times, was one of the first men into the village of Vimy and was awarded the D.C.M. Diane moved to Brandon to complete her high school education then proceeded to graduate from Brandon College with a B.A. in English then her Teachers Certificate. Her first teaching job was in Eden, Manitoba, which was a platform for her wish to travel. Through a government program she was awarded a lectureship at a Teacher Training College in Mwanza, Tanzania. In her spare time she halter-broke a zebra for fun. Also she helped a team of UK and Dutch scientists who were studying the group dynamics of chimpanzees in the wild. Africa had a profound and life-long effect on Diane. Her next move was to another Teacher Training College, this time in Kingston, Jamaica. She loved the Carribean, but after two years she returned to Manitoba because of her father's ill health. Diane joined the Brandon substitute teachers' list and was popular teaching English and History in the Junior and Senior High Schools. Actually she first met John in the staffroom at Neelin High School where, as a recent immigrant from Scotland, he taught Physics and later introduced Computer Science. Diane and John married on July 4th 1973 and Maggie was born on Oct. 24th 1974. Diane always had a passion for horses. She was a very active member in Brandon Light Horse and Pony Society. She was much in demand as a knowledgeable announcer at local horse shows and in the hitching ring at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. One of Diane's dreams was realized when she and John bought an ideal small acreage just off Grand Valley. John built a small barn with box stalls and a run-in shed for shelter. Diane became a breeder and raised several foals of good bloodlines. They were intended for show jumping or dressage and one was bought by a woman from Dallas, Texas. These were the best years for Diane, Maggie and John (who retired in 2000). About two years ago Diane was showing early signs of vascular dementia which later made it necessary for Diane and John to move to Victoria Landing Seniors Home in Brandon. Just three months later Diane had a serious stroke which left her half paralyzed and speech-impaired until her death on March 8th 2013. Our sincere thanks go to the dedicated and compassionate staff on Floor 3, Assiniboine Centre and to Dr. Tissera. Diane touched many hearts and is sorely missed.