Diana Mary Beaglehole

Beaglehole, Diana Mary nee Flower “Didee”
Dearly loved Sister to Jocelyn & Mother to Briar, Rachel & Doug. Adored Grandma to Matthew, Sophie, Emma, Angus, Rose, Lily, James & David. Mother-in-Law to Garry, Jonathan & Tracey.
Our thanks to the care team in the Buchanan household to whom we will always be grateful.
A funeral service to celebrate Diana’s life will be held on Friday the 24th of January 12 noon at Old St Paul’s Thorndon.
Any donations to Dementia Wellington would be most appreciated.

TRIBUTES

Rob Laking

Dear Briar, Rachel, and Douglas
Of course we’ll see you soon at Old St Paul’s but we wanted to add this. Diana brings back so many memories for us, that go back 50 years or more when Colleen and I and Diana and Robin were young parents together, neighbours in Paisley Terrace and then Monaghan Avenue / Friend Street, sharing babysitting, supporting kids at sports, comparing notes on child-rearing. Just being able to share parenting stories with your Mum and Dad was how we got through it all with our sanity and self-respect intact! What I remember most about Diana then was how funny she was – what an older generation like mine would call “a real dag”. She coped with the stresses of parenting and work with that mordant, droll, sense of humour. It’s been a long, hard haul for you, these last years, so I hope you can get some comfort from remembering what a wonderful strong funny woman she was. That’s the way we think of her, and of the great partnership she had with Robin, that dear, sweet, gentle man. We miss them both but we have those memories. With love from both of us – Rob and Colleen.

Patrick Herbert

Dear Jocelyn,
I was so sorry to read of Diana’s death in today’s Paper.
On behalf of all of the Herbert clan, please accept our deepest sympathy and condolence’s.
I haven’t seen Diana for a number of years, but used to run into her from time to time in Wellington, during my working years. She always stopped for a chat which I thoroughly enjoyed .
I’m really sorry that I’m not able to get over to Wellington for her funeral tomorrow.
Again, deepest sympathy and warmest best wishes to you and please pass on our condolences to her family.

Barbara Taylor

My friend Diana Mary may you rest in peace. My sincere condolences to Diana’s children and her sister Jocelyn.
I first met Diana in 1951 at St Mary’s Diocesan School Stratford, now known as Taranaki Diocesan. Diana and some of our friends found the name change quite upsetting. Our friendship has been the “gold” in our lives and sadly now one piece is missing. Diana loved life and loved her home town of Whanganui. I have so many happy memories of Diana as a young girl, at her marriage to Robin, her joy at the birth of her children, all the things that are important in life. We shared the joy of having grandchildren. Diana had an agile mind and was always quick witted with quite a sense of humour. I regret not being able to be present at her funeral but I will, and my family will be thinking of her tomorrow. You are safe now Di and free to fly the skies above us. Thank you for being my friend.

Anna O’Hagan

My thoughts are with you all at this sad time saying good bye to your wonderful mum/ grandma. She was so loved by you all I know that for sure…. Im glad I got to meet her and I have a special casserole dish from her house that now every time I use it I will think of her ! RIP Didee XX

Margaret Tennant

Dear Briar, Rachel and Doug,
I was so sorry to hear of Diana’s death, unfortunately after her funeral, but send my condolences. I stayed with Diana during a couple of periods of academic leave in the early 2000s, and on the occasional overnighter afterwards, and we got on very well. She made her mark as a historian, especially contributing to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography in its heyday. And then she also left a legacy in the commissioned books she wrote as a public historian – on the NZ College of Management, the Interlock Group and the Marsden and Chelsea Clubs are ones that spring to mind. She had high standards and a sharp mind, and we all remember his wicked sense of humour!

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