Mrs. Diane Lee Earl

I was born in Truro and raised in Brookfield, Nova Scotia. I was living at Jackfish Lake in Parkland County, Alberta at the time of my death. I left this earth on February 25 to join my fur children Carly, Simon and Annie; my mom Lenna Crowe; my brothers James and Michael Crowe; my sister and best friend Karen Watcher; my sister-in-law Penny Crowe; my uncle Bernie; my aunts Betty, Ileen, Thelma and Kay; my cousin Rob and my nephew Michael John. Left is my husband Kevin, a great man and the love of my life for over thirty- seven years and our fur children Jade and Tucker. Left also are my father Bernard Crowe and my brothers Colie (Donna), David (Kim) and Reg; my sisters-in-law Belinda Crowe, Bev Samson, Debbie Yuill, Dolly Crowe, Kerry Fitch (Gary) and Tracey Bowden (Tom). I leave also my aunt Joan and my uncle Vernon, cousins, nieces, nephews and my wonderful friends, all of whom I loved dearly. Proudly, I represented my hometown, province and country in wheelchair sports and was a member of the first women's Canadian wheelchair basketball team. I was honoured to be inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame for athletics and the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame. It was always my belief that we should all leave our community a better place than we found it, and to that end I tried to live a good life and give back when I could. Two life accomplishments made me particularly proud. One was being the first person in Canada using a wheelchair for mobility to be accepted into the Bachelor of Physical Education Program at Dalhousie University and to graduate with a Bachelor of Physical Education Degree in 1975 from the University of Alberta. Today when a person with a disability wants to enter their particular field of study I believe there are fewer questions and obstacles, and that is as it should be. In the 1970s that was not always the case, and I commend my universities for taking a chance on me. I recognize Dick Loiselle, Carolyn Jacks (Dalhousie) and Bob Steadward (U of A) for their support. Secondly, along with a great team at Alberta Transportation and Utilities, 1987-90, we developed and implemented a Barrier Free Transportation Policy for the province of Alberta. That was really important work at the time and Alberta was one of the first provinces in Canada, if not the first, to develop and implement such a policy to help eliminate public transportation barriers for people with disabilities. I was indeed fortunate to have the best family physician possible and I thank Dr. Tom Ranieri for his years of dedication and caring support. It was always my decision and wish that no formal service be held, but I ask you, my family, friends and former colleagues, to remember the good times we spent together. I hope those memories make you smile or laugh and make you glad that we knew one another. My last wish for you is to live every day to the fullest. If you wish, a donation to any organization that helps animals, to an organization that provides support or sports for persons with disabilities, to the Northern Alberta Urology Foundation or to the Alberta Cancer Foundation will be appreciated.

Mrs. Diane Lee Earl

November 3, 1947 - February 25, 2015