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Obituary for
Dianne Kathryn Stretch-Strang
Dianne Kathryn Stretch-Strang of Edmonton passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the age of 72 years after a long illness.
Dianne was born in Edmonton on December 12, 1952, to Albert and Anne Stretch (née Kowalski). She graduated from Victoria Composite High School in 1970. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Honours Classics from the University of Alberta in 1975 and her master’s degree in Canadian History from the University of Alberta in 1979.
She taught Canadian and indigenous history at the University of Alberta, the University of Saskatchewan, NAIT, Red Deer College, and Athabasca University. She taught history as part of the Asokan Project and the Tender Ties program, which helped Métis and First Nations women gain skills for the workforce in a culturally informed and inclusive environment. She was active on various committees and was a welcome sight at departmental events, usually with freshly baked bannock or cake. She mentored students and many of them remember her fondly for giving them a new perspective and appreciation of history. She was gifted an eagle feather by Cree elders Percy and Sylvia Cowan and given her Cree name.
In 1988 she met the love of her life, pipeline welder David Strang, and they married in Edmonton in May 1989. They lived in Olds, Alberta and in Edmonton. They were married for 30 years until his passing in 2019.
She continued teaching for many years and worked on contract projects including the City of Edmonton’s Rossdale Flats Aboriginal Oral Histories Project in 2003 – 2004.
Dianne was fond of sewing, baking, cooking, preserving, gardening, genealogy, and reading. She was a fantastic conversationalist with a wicked sense of humour and she had a passion for British TV series, Greek food, and trying new things – whether they be recipes, cuisines, or authors.
In 2008, her beloved rough collie Duffy joined the family, and she spent many happy weekends doing tracking workshops with him. A second beautiful collie, Lanny, joined the family in 2012. She also loved spending time with both of her dogs on her family farm near Bon Accord.
In the years before her parents passed away, she took care of both of them and volunteered with the Edmonton General’s Second Wind Dreams committee, which fulfilled wishes for the General’s many long-term care and hospice residents.
Starting in 2012, she volunteered at Northlands Guest Services, a position she enjoyed greatly as it gave her the opportunity to meet so many new people and it built upon her love for the city and helping others. From 2018 to 2020, she was employed at the EEDC Expo Centre.
Dianne is survived by her spirited and joyful collie, Lanny; numerous Kowalski and Stretch cousins; and her grieving friends, lolanda Pucci and her family, Lin Greatorex, Jacqueline Pelletier, Diane Berge, Jolene McCuaig, Wendy Makarchuk, Cheryl Kraft, Linda Grierson, Sarah Pocklington; and many others. She is also survived by her Goddaughters, Dannielle Kinneard and Linnéa Murray.
She was predeceased by her husband, David Strang (2019); parents, Albert (2016) and Anne (Kowalski) Stretch (2010); uncles, Mike Kowalski (1989) and Nick Kowalski (2013); along with her much loved and missed collie, Duffy (2020).
A heartfelt thank you to the hospice staff at Norwood for their skilled support and compassion. Another huge thank you to Seniors Home Care by Angels who provided so much comfort to her and cared for her in her final months.
Viewing to take place Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Park Memorial Reception Centre, 11015 – 101 Street NW, Edmonton with interment to follow in Bon Accord Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Cloud Foundation, Help Alberta Wildies Society or the Alberta SPCA.
The Cloud Foundation
Help Alberta Wildies Society
Alberta SPCA
1952 2025
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta
death notice Dianne Kathryn
Stretch-Strang 1952 2025
obituaries notice Dianne Kathryn
Stretch-Strang 1952 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Dianne Kathryn
Stretch-Strang 1952 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
