It is with great sadness we share that Diane Bell lost her fight with breast cancer on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital. She was in her 73rd year. Diane will be deeply missed by husband, Robert and son, John (Dawn Reed), brother Dennis Manarey (Helen) of St. Mary’s and Aunt Grace Annett of Barrie. Diane will also be missed by her grandchildren Jordan, Ethan and Prestan, many cousins and her God-grandchildren, Matthew, and Lillian along with their parents, Jennifer, and Jordan Hooper.
Diane was always a community advocate and believed the only way change would take place is if you were willing to help make it happen. Diane was a Director and past-Chair of the Ramara Library Board at a time of change and at the time of the building of the Ramara Centre. She was an elected Trustee and Past Chair for Simcoe County District School Board. Diane sat on a number of committees in Ramara Township and until her passing, including the Udney Hall Board and the Ramara Historical Society, where she had been past president. Diane’s passion for politics led her to be an active campaign organizer where she learned so much from Ali, James, Kevin, and Doug. She enjoyed it so much that she re-entered the workforce to support then-Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton and current MP Adam Chambers as a Constituency Assistant. Diane will be sorely missed by the many friends she made along the way. She touched many lives and definitely made a difference. Diane’s family gives many thanks to her caregivers at the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre led by Dr. Jessica Singh.
Visitation will be held at the Simcoe Funeral Home, 38 James Street East Orillia on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service in the chapel at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to the RVH Cancer Centre, Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital or the Terry Fox Foundation for Cancer Research would be appreciated by the family. Messages of condolence are welcomed at www.simcoefuneralhome.ca