Diane Elizabeth (McAlister) Boyd was born on June 23, 1969, in Guelph, Ontario. She died far too soon, on December 21, 2023, following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was 54 years of age.
Diane is survived by the loves of her life: her husband, Robert, and their four children, Kaleigh, Abigail, Robyn, and Ben. She is also survived by her parents, Malcolm and Carol McAlister, as well as her sister, Barb McAlister, and her grandmother, Myra Pearce. Diane was predeceased by her grandfather, John Pearce, who died on December 22, 2015.
Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Guelph and went on to attain her Master of Divinity from Tyndale College and Seminary. After choosing to be home with her children for more than 10 years, she then graduated from the University of Toronto Knox College, with a Master of Theological Studies, in 2017.
In Guelph, Diane pastored the Riverside Community Reformed Church during a transition period in 2018 and served as a Pastoral Visitor for St. Andrews Presbyterian Church from 2019 to 2022. She was an Interim Moderator, in 2021 and 2022, at Elmira’s Gale Presbyterian Church. And she became the Minister at Rockwood Presbyterian Church in 2020, continuing to serve her congregation throughout her illness.
Diane was an avid soccer player her entire life and, in 2017, began coaching her children through Guelph Soccer. She loved to coach, loved her players, and was named Southwest Soccer’s “Coach of the Year” in 2021.
A woman of strong faith, Diane was kind, passionate, competitive and a fighter. She cared deeply for the people around her and made a positive impact on many lives. She will be forever missed.
No words can express how grateful we are to the staff and volunteers at Hospice Wellington, who were there for us on the day of her passing.
Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Friday, January 5, 2024, at Wall-Custance Funeral Home, from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. The funeral will be held on Saturday, January 6, at Kortright Presbyterian Church, at 1 pm. Arrangements entrusted to WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com ).
In lieu of flowers, donations in Diane’s name can be made to the Canadian Cancer Foundation , the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation , and/or Hospice Wellington in Guelph.
A tree will be planted in memory of Diane E. Boyd in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.