Darlene Edith Diehl

Darlene Diehl, known affectionately by many as “Gert,” passed away at the Health Sciences Centre on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, generosity, and the best carrot cake you’ve ever had.

Darlene will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Nicole (Joe) Schiedel; her cherished granddaughter, Lyanna Schiedel; and her sister, Pat Hay (Metcalf), as well as many other family members and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, Art and Eileen Diehl, and her brothers-in-law, Doug Metcalf and Bud Hay.

Born on February 15, 1947, in Holland, Manitoba, Darlene’s journey came full circle throughout her life. Raised first in town (Cypress River), she was then abruptly moved to a farm by her parents, Art and Eileen—a farm she eventually grew to love deeply. She would often tell stories of having to walk uphill, in five feet of snow, to Richmond Hill School. As a young woman, Darlene moved to Winnipeg, where she built a life full of adventure and lifelong friendships. She attended Red River College before beginning her career in the accounting department at Air Canada, played baseball, and spent her nights at bar gigs listening to the early sounds of The Guess Who.

Before settling into motherhood, Darlene lived a life of exploration. She traveled the world, visiting ten different countries and developing a deep love for music of all genres—from the local Winnipeg scene, to Elvis and Sam Cooke, to the tropical sounds of The Merry Men from Barbados. And if a jive came on at a dance, you could always find her on the dance floor.

Darlene’s life was defined by her devotion to those she loved. In 1989, she moved to Calgary with her daughter, Nicole. During her time working at a travel agency, “Dee” became a beloved fixture, so famous for her signature carrot cake that she was once immortalized in a caricature featuring a slice of her legendary baking. After settling in Pincher Creek in 1998, she proved her devotion as a daughter by returning to Cypress River to care for her aging parents. In 2007, she moved back to Winnipeg to be near her daughter.

To know Darlene was to know the sound of her voice on the other end of the phone. She truly loved people and possessed a rare, genuine interest in the lives of others. It didn’t matter how mundane a detail seemed—if it mattered to you, it mattered to her. She held a mental directory of phone numbers and a heart full of everyone’s favorite dishes, ensuring that no one ever felt forgotten or hungry in her presence.

Darlene found joy in life’s simple pleasures: a hot cup of coffee, the 4:30 p.m. airing of The Young and the Restless, baking, the many crafts she mastered over the years, and the bright colors of the flowers she planted each spring. While her younger years were filled with world travel, her later years were defined by the profound joy of being a grandmother to Lyanna.

A reserved soul until she got to know you, Darlene’s smile and laugh were gifts she shared freely. Her spirit of service was evident during her years in Cypress River, where she volunteered for countless events (and famously “voluntold” Nicole to join her). Before officially retiring, she worked in an assisted living facility where community was everything. She was a woman who gave even when she had little to spare, proving that her true wealth was found in her kindness.

A Celebration of Darlene’s life will take place in the Cypress River United Church at a later date in the spring.

Friends that so wish, memorial donations can be made in her memory to the Cypress River & Area Foundation, Box 86, Cypress River, MB, R0K 0P0.

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