Diane Emma Victoria Larkin (nee Stringer)

Diane Emma Victoria Larkin (nee Stringer)

July 21, 1940 – March 17, 2022

It is with profound sadness and an abundance of grief that the Larkin family announces the passing of Diane on Thursday, March 17, 2022 (St. Patrick’s Day) at her home of 64 years in the community of Lakeview, Mississauga.

Diane was a kind, loving, and warm soul with a big heart, and a youthful love for life. The second-eldest of five children, Diane took on the role of helping raise her younger siblings when her mother passed away when she was only 13 years old.

Born and raised in Toronto, in the community of Weston near the Humber River Valley, Diane worked at the Eaton’s Annex in Toronto, where she made friends with Flo DeMarco. Flo later introduced Diane to her brother Bob, and they fell madly in love. Diane moved into the house he shared with his mother Edith Larkin (predeceased) in Lakeview when she was only 17 years old, where she helped care for his mother in her later years, and she and Bob raised their family. Bob and Diane were true soulmates and together they built a great life, raising their four children in a small cottage-style home, which they adored and was always home to them.

Together, Diane and Bob celebrated 52 anniversaries, raised four children, embraced four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter, enjoyed endless sunrises and sunsets together, and just enjoyed life. The summer was a time they both loved, especially when it was spent celebrating with family and friends at the cottage in Wasaga Beach, or visiting Mary and Bob’s cottage in Minden Hills.

In 2010, when Diane tragically lost Bob to cancer, she was devastated and knew she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life alone. She found a great companion in Callie, a little calico cat that she adopted in 2012. Then, in 2015 Diane was introduced to Don by her daughter and the two met and quickly became great companions. They had many great times together, they travelled out West, went shopping, to bingo, on day trips, and to the seniors centre for many afternoons full of fun with friends. When her illness progressed, Don loved and cared for Diane and encouraged her to continue fighting. Their bond was special and it meant a lot for Dianef and Don to have found a companion in one another later in life.

We will miss your loving back pats, your laugh, your smile, the twinkle in your blue-blue eyes, your love for music, your stubbornness, your yummy cabbage rolls, but most of all we will miss your presence in our lives. May you live on in our hearts forever. We are glad you are no longer suffering and know you are now at peace.

Thank you to everyone who took such amazing care of our special little lady. We would like to thank her personal support worker Cathy, and everyone at Trillium Health Partners who cared for her over the years, and a special thank you to Diane's daughter Denise Larkin who dedicated her life in recent years to caring for her mom. She loved and appreciated you all!

Diane, loving mother, wife, nanny (nanbread), partner, sister, cousin, and friend leaves behind Don Wynn, her partner of 7 years, her children; Bob Larkin (Mary), Christine Larkin, George Larkin, and Denise Larkin. Grandchildren; Carly Appleton (Chris), Jeffrey Larkin (Gaelan), Victoria Larkin (Tyler), Allison Larkin (Anthony); Great-Granddaughter Maddison; siblings; Herb Stringer (Brenda), Debra Efthimiou (Frank), along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is predeceased by her mother Mrytle Misales, her father Wallace Stringer, and step-mother Dot. Her husband Robert Larkin, brother James (predeceased at birth) sister, Doreen Woods (Robert), and brother Wally Stringer (Sandy).

A Celebration of Life will be announced in the days to come, and the burial will take place privately. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the Mississauga Food Bank in her honour.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.