With great sadness that we share this Fund Raising Page in loving memory of Diane Stewart, Sheppard, (nee Holland).

Diane was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer towards the end of 2017 and despite her hard fought battle, she passed away at home on the morning of Thursday 18th October 2018; in the arms of her devoted husband, Dylan.

Donations in her memory can be made, via this Page, to Diane’s 3 chosen charities: Cinnamon Trust (1134680) and Ashgate Hospicecare (700636) and Sheffield Dog Rescue (1000107).

Any & all donations will be gratefully received and you have our heartfelt thanks and gratitude in anticipation.

Diane's cremation service took place on Thursday 1st November 2018 at 11.50am at The Chesterfield & District Crematorium S43 1AU. This was followed by a Celebration of Diane’s life hosted in the Watkinson Room at The Manor at Brampton S40 3QB.

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To remember and to honour the life of Diane Elizabeth Stewart.

We think, today, of those who were closest to Diane. Lives which have been closely tied together cannot be separated without pain and so our thoughts today are especially with her husband Dylan, her mum Ann and also Sara with her husband Mark.

Also in our thoughts are all of Diane`s many friends and everyone touched by her death.

When someone is taken from us, as Diane was, in the prime of life, we can feel many different emotions… Immense anger, deep hurt, grief, and disbelief, are just a few of the words that are associated with our feelings.

But hidden in all the pain and sorrow that we feel, there is undeniably something to be thankful for.

We can feel gratitude for the fact that we have known Diane and although she is no longer with us we can be thankful that we were privileged and honoured to have known her.

Diane passed away on 18th October at home and her family would like to take this opportunity to thank Anita from Ashgate Hospice for her invaluable support during Diane`s illness.

Funeral services are for sharing memories about someone we have lost and you are all invited to share more of your own memories together after this service at the Watkinson Room at Brampton Manor where refreshments will be served.

We are going to begin our service of farewell to Diane with a lovely poem, read to us by Sara…

Poem read by Sara – “Who Am I?”

Comments about Diane have included the words “a whirlwind”, “Infectiously positive” and “fun”.

She was also described to me as someone who never did anything by halves – and the story of her life, lived with mental and physical enthusiasm, bears that out! We`ll hear about some of the things she did in a while but first of all, let`s go back to the beginning for Diane which was on 2nd April 1956 when she was born in Chesterfield to her parents Ivor and Ann Holland.

After she left school she became a sign writer, later moving to Despro Electronics where she learned to do technical drawings for the electronics industry.

From there Diane moved to Sheffield University as an illustrator but she took a complete change of direction in her career in the early `80`s when she began training as a psychiatric nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

But Diane didn`t pursue nursing as a career and eventually she started to work with various charities in management and fund raising. She became freelance in 2013 and was even able to combine work with one of her interests when she helped organisations to plan medieval events.

But life wasn`t all about work - Diane was married to Dylan who shared her interest in history, so much so that their wedding on 22ndof September 2016 was at Elder Yard Chapel and it was in fact a Handfasting ceremony with both Diane and Dylan in Medieval dress.

They had met in November 2012 after connecting on line and their first encounter was at Chesterfield Parish Church – The Crooked Spire. Dylan lit a match to get a better look at the building and to coin a phrase he told me "it was love at first strike!"

Earlier on in her life, Diane was also married to Keith whose daughter Sara went on to become a close lifelong friend…

Not surprisingly as a sign writer and one time illustrator, Diane was very artistic. She was often to be found drawing or writing poetry. She made her own greetings cards, was a keen gardener and loved the theatre and music especially Gregorian chants and the music of Leonard Cohen. (Although she didn`t like music in the car and much preferred to talk to whoever she was with or listen to a historical audio book).

History was a passion for Diane and she was very knowledgeable. A one time National Trust member she loved Hardwick Hall or any day out to a historic house or castle.

She was an avid reader but on the other side of the historical coin she loved Terry Pratchett fantasy novels and his Discworld series.

In the late 1970`s/early 1980`s Diane took up Marathon running and in the late 1980`s was part of an event running from Chesterfield to London; she also did some Fell Running.

Diane loved all animals but she especially had a passion for hares! But Bess, the German Shepherd dog was a massive part of her life – originally a rescue puppy who sadly had to be put to sleep in September 2018. A sad day.

Holidays were usually in Britain, Conway or Barmouth in Wales or the much loved Northumberland with Dylan in a dog friendly cottage.

Diane always had a smile on her face. She was someone who wanted to make the world a better place and she was caring, kind, loving and friendly.

She was beautiful inside and out and there in a heartbeat if ever she was needed.

She was very determined with a tendency to be stubborn, but she took the knocks in her life with great courage. She had many happy times in her life and she never let the challenges bring her down.

Her approach to life was to live every moment.

It always seems so unfair when a bright light goes out too early, and Diane went far too early, but people live on in the way they have touched the lives of others, whether that is the light touch of a recent friendship, or the deep imprint they have left on their family.

And although she will be missed beyond words, Diane will never be forgotten.

Music – Thank You by Led Zeppelin

Before we end our final farewell to Diane, let us just take a pause to be grateful once more for the tangibles – the impact of Diane`s life on yours.

Each of you will remember the good times you spent with her, and although her life was distressingly shortened we should take comfort in the knowledge that in the time that she had she made an impression on the people she knew.

There is a saying wherever a beautiful soul has journeyed, they leave behind a trail of beautiful memories. I am sure all of you gathered here will have many wonderful and precious memories of Diane, and so may you always cherish her memory and let it live on.

Leave Chapel to Music – Closing Time by Leonard Cohen .

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Love, Hope & Strength - Dylan, Ann & Sara.