1918 – 2015
It is with sadness and a sense of profound loss that we announce the passing of Elsie Diamond. She is survived by her loving niece, Rosemary Burton, (Maurice), their children, Karen, Jacqueline (Jamie) and their grandchildren, David, Genevieve and Nicholas. Born in London, England, Elsie immigrated to Canada after the Second World War and pursued her remarkable talents as a seamstress, (she made all her own clothes and ball gowns), flower arranger, bridge player, (for years she ran the Monterey Bridge Club) and gardener extraordinaire. She was also a master at cross word puzzles, but over all these skills was her ability to dance and to teach.
Her gift for dancing blossomed with the opening of her Dance Studio above the old Pemberton Holmes office on New Year’s Eve in 1960, (Elsie’s Studio of Dancing), followed by invitations to judge International dance competitions around the world. Since then, and well into her eighties, Elsie brought the joy of Ballroom and Latin dance to thousands of Victorians, several of whom have gone on to become professional dance instructors themselves. One student, John de-Pfyffer, went on to form the University Ballroom Dance Club, which was so successful it developed into the Victoria Ballroom Dance Society. A beautiful English “Rose” whose love of Dance and teaching continues to be felt throughout our community. Elsie entertained with grace and she always had a seemingly endless stream of jokes. She had a wonderful sense of humour.
She credits her friends with helping her through the pain of two husbands dying from cancer, (Ron Holton and Gerald Diamond). For Elsie, friendship was a two way street. She always said, “I’m never happier than when I am helping other people.
The family and the primary caregivers, (Peggy and Allen York), wish to express profound gratitude for the kind, compassionate and professional care given to Elsie during her four years at Glengarry Hospital. We also thank the team of companions who were with Elsie every day: Carol, Thelma, June, Sandra and Michelle and Tina.
A celebration of Elsie’s life will be held in McCall’s Floral Chapel, Johnson & Vancouver Streets on Tuesday July 21 at 1:00 p.m. Her remains will be then interred at Royal Oak Burial Park next to her first husband, Ron. In lieu of flowers, people are invited to make a donation to the Greater Victoria Elder Care Foundation directed towards the development of a Comfort /Care room at Glengarry Hospital to be known as the Diamond Room., 1454 Hillside Ave., Victoria, B C V8T 2B7. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
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