Obituary of Diane Stover

Diane passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023 at the age of 87 years. Born in Edmonton, she was the only child of Vera Lee Stover and Norman McKee Stover.  Diane will be missed by her long-time friends, Lue and Dean Josephson and Shelley Kelln-Trudelle. 

Diane had many academic achievements, University of Alberta, graduated with an honors chemistry degree in 1957, University of California, Berkley earned a Master of Science M.S. in Chemistry in 1960, and also taught at Fresno State College. Following that she returned to the University of Alberta and obtained a Ph. D in Radiation Chemistry in 1967. From 1968 to 1972 she taught chemistry at Red Deer College. 

A change in direction was to go into Psychology, so Diane attended Queens University in Kingston in 1974 where she received a M.A. in Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Gerontology).

In January 1982, Diane started working at the Regina Mental Health Clinic as a Senior Psychologist and continued there until her retirement in 2000. While working as a Clinical Psychologist she was also involved with the Psychological Society of Saskatchewan (PSS) and then the Saskatchewan Psychological Association (SPA) as Treasurer for a number of years.  In recognition of her longstanding service, Diane was presented with the Jillings Award in 1999.  Following retirement from the Mental Health Clinic she continued doing some private practice and being involved with the newly formed College of Psychologists. 

Diane had a lifelong love of music that began with piano lessons at age 5 to 18 and then again after she retired when she discovered the joy of playing two pianos with other people.  Diane was involved in mixed choruses at the University of Alberta and Berkley, California.  While in Kingston she began the study of classical guitar.  At her suite at College Park, Diane continued to play her Clavinova.  

Team sports were never her forte, but she was competitive, at 13 she was the Alberta Junior Archery Champion, she also enjoyed horseback riding and figure skating. 

Diane had always wanted a cat as a pet and was able to finally fulfill that wish when she purchased her home in Regina.  The plan was to buy one cat, however, she also joined a cat club where she met Lue and Dean Josephson who also bred cats.  Finding that interesting she decided to try it herself.  During the later part of 1980 and 1990 she bred and showed Russian Blues and Cornish Rexes and met many wonderful people in the cat fancy through this.  Her beloved Benji, her last cat, was rescued by Diane and he provided many years of companionship and love. Every year she made sure Benji had a planter of catnip to enjoy along with all of her flowers which she was so proud of. 

From her home, Diane moved to College Park I Retirement residence in 2012 where she met new friends and enjoyed playing cards, bingo and the weekly Scavenger hunts. 

Thank you to the staff at College Park I for many years of enjoyment and help as well as the nurses, care assistants and chaplain at Regina Wascana Grace Hospice for their kind and compassionate care. 

In accordance with Diane’s wishes, no public funeral service will be held.  Friends are invited to listen to a piece of music that is meaningful to them.