Dionne Warner waged warfare towards the 9 separate most cancers diagnoses she had all through her lifetime. And because the obituary she co-wrote together with her husband explicitly lays out, saying that she misplaced her battle with the illness could be incorrect.
“Like a hockey participant scoring three hat-tricks in a recreation, who would even care what group received, when the main target would most undoubtedly be on that single gamers unbelievable efficiency!” states the obituary, posted to the Regina’s Speers funeral chapel web site Tuesday morning.
Dionne died Monday “on her personal phrases,” based on the obituary.
As those that knew her attest, her efficiency was certainly unbelievable.
Pam Klein described her buddy of greater than a decade as having an infectious character with an nearly gravitational pull.
“You wished to be round her. Like, it was simply one thing modified in you whenever you had been round Dionne Warner, for the higher,” Klein advised World Information.
Nora Yeates, CEO of the Most cancers Basis of Saskatchewan, knew Dionne by advocacy initiatives, and was persistently touched by Dionne’s compassion for others.
“The large factor for her was hope and religion and miracles, as a result of she was a miracle,” stated Nora Yeates, CEO of the Most cancers Basis of Saskatchewan.
“When you met Dionne, you by no means forgot her. By no means,”
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Dionne, from Mississisauga, Ont., had already been recognized with most cancers twice by the point she started a relationship with the person who would grow to be her life companion within the late Nineteen Nineties.
Graham Warner advised World Information in 2015 that he proposed to his spouse on the third date.
“Assembly her made me understand I don’t need to stay life with regrets,” he stated again then.
In that very same 2015 interview, reflecting again on the grim prognoses early of their relationship (Dionne obtained her third most cancers diagnoses simply months after shifting to Regina in 2000), she stated her husband-to-be “didn’t even waiver and we weren’t even married but.”
Whereas six extra totally different most cancers diagnoses adopted over the subsequent 20 years, the couple confronted the challenges head-on with openness and positivity. They grew to become standard for the costumes they wore to her remedies over time — a approach to unfold pleasure to fellow sufferers.
Klein was nonetheless grappling together with her personal breast most cancers remedies 12 years in the past when she heard a couple of lady promoting pink-themed memorabilia to fundraise for most cancers sufferers locally. Compelled, she popped by the store that Dionne had arrange and the 2 bought to speaking. The remainder is historical past.
When Klein began the Energy of Pink, she stated her buddy contributed considerably to fundraising and consciousness efforts.
“Dionne was at all times an avid supporter,” Klein stated. “She was a supporter of neighborhood whatever the initiative.”
Yeates echoes the sentiment, including that Dionne’s dedication to these round her was astounding on condition that she was typically unwell herself.
“If you hear the phrase Dionne Warner and also you hear in regards to the battle she had with most cancers, sure she had a battle with most cancers, however you understand what, she was all about advocacy as effectively,” Yeates stated.
Dionne, who battled breast, liver, lung and mind most cancers over time, was energetic in selling prevention and early detection.
“What she did was carry consciousness to the truth that it doesn’t matter what sort of most cancers you have got, we’re all on this collectively and all of us help one another. And by no means, by no means, by no means, cease preventing. By no means cease dwelling,” Yeates stated. “By no means cease having fun with your life and the individuals who love you.”
In 2010, Dionne was honoured with the Group Management Girl of Distinction award for her volunteer work on the Allan Blair Most cancers Canter. She was named considered one of 32 Worldwide Heroes of Hope by the America Most cancers Society the follwing yr and considered one of 25 Heritage Heroes by the Look Good Really feel Higher program in 2017.
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Whereas many individuals beloved Dionne, maximizing her time together with her husband Graham was a precedence. Klein describes their story, a lot of which is chronicled within the e book By no means Go away Your Wingman, as aspirational.
“They went by loads collectively and definitely, their relationship and their love is famend,” Klein stated.
In 2015, Graham, who runs a industrial towing service, offered his spouse with a sizzling pink tow truck adorned in tribute to her lifetime of resiliency.
He advised World Information on the time that it symbolizes “issues are going to be higher down the street.”
The couple and their tow truck had been staples at most cancers fundraising and consciousness occasions in recent times.
“They had been so inclusive of their pleasure,” marvelled Klein, who described her friendship with Dionne as “a blessing.”
Yeates, no stranger to seeing the truck locally, famous the way it mirrored Dionne’s want to assist others on their very own journeys.
“Dionne was an attractive particular person in and out. Completely lovely,” Yeates stated.
“She credited a lot to Graham, to her pals, to the neighborhood she lived in for the help.”
Within the obituary, Graham famous how the couple “lived life to the fullest.” It makes particular word of Dionne’s want that he proceed on that method.
“To my Wingman G, you’ll at all times be my without end love, the sunshine of life. I used to be blessed, honoured and so grateful to have had your love,” she added.
© 2021 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
