It is with deep sadness that the family of Dianne Virginia Lafrance (née Stirling) announces her passing on September 17, 2026, following a battle with liver cancer.

Born on March 25, 1948, to Keith and Loretta Stirling, Dianne leaves behind her husband of 57 years, Paul Edouard Lafrance, her loving sisters Joan Mackinnon and Sandra O’Grady, her three children, Marc Étienne Lafrance, Laure Eugénie Lafrance (Jonathon), and Stirling Alexis Tieu-Lafrance (Tina), and her standard poodle, Vive.

Dianne devoted herself to the lives of her children above all else, who are devastated by her loss and will love her forever and for always. Dianne was the proud Nonna of Sophia and Reese. 

Dianne was a community builder. She was a fierce proponent of French Immersion education and a model of volunteerism. She could always be counted on to lend her time and energy to school teas, science fairs, and Christmas bazaars. She was, in many ways, the beating heart of her children’s schools and believed deeply in the importance of education.

Dianne was a voracious reader of history, particularly Italian history, and had a formidable capacity to summon historical facts to mind and debate their finer points. She revelled in learning Italian and in rediscovering her familial roots, which can be traced back to the small town of Cucculo, Abruzzo. She also developed an enduring love for Dante, whose work she studied well into later life.

Dianne brought the same commitment to the civic life of her community. A long-time Chair of the North Bay Public Library Board, she regarded libraries as essential to an educated citizenry and a thriving liberal democracy.

She was equally committed to social justice and to those most vulnerable. A long-time Chair of the Board of the Nipissing Transition House, Dianne was a tireless advocate for women. Her feminism was not merely a matter of principle; she put those principles into practice through years of service to others.

Dianne owned and operated the catering company Northern Delights for over two decades, earning a reputation across the city for her impressive culinary creations. Much like she did in her volunteer work, Dianne brought North Bay’s artisanal community together by spearheading the City Streets Open House Tour which went on to become a local tradition.

Dianne will be mourned by her husband, her children, her extended family, and the many people whose lives she touched. To honour her passing, her family asks that donations be made to the Nipissing Transition House, the North Bay Library, or the North Bay Regional Health Centre. 

A Celebration of Dianne's Life will be held at a later date.

¨Life is like a story; what matters is not how long it is, but how good it is.  When the play is over, it is enough to have played your part well.¨ — Seneca

"I have a good hope that there is something remaining for the dead. They who have lived a good life will find their departure peaceful and full of hope."— Socrates