A celebration of Diana's life was held on 29 July 2023 from 12h to 15h PDT in the Fireplace Lounge of the University Club, situated on the campus of the University of Victoria, BC, Canada. Thirty family members and friends of Diana attended the celebration in person, and twenty followed the formal part remotely over the internet.
Wolfgang, Diana's husband, delivered a poignant first eulogy, titled "Diana's Love and Life," drawing inspiration from Robert Schumann's Lieder Cycle "Frauenliebe und Leben". The eulogy was concluded by select songs from the Lieder Cycle, recorded during a superb recital by soprano Joanne Hounsell and Diana at the piano.
Stephanie, Diana's sister, reminisced in a second eulogy about Diana's childhood and family life, and retraced her formative years and her early career as a professional musician, academic, and teacher of piano performance. Stephanie eloquently invoked the guiding principles that shaped Diana's teaching throughout her entire life.
Elise, Wolfgang's daughter, shared heartfelt words about her lifelong bond with Diana, which began at the age of five. She recalled how Diana became a role model and confidante, bringing "love, light, and melodious harmony" into their family, and leaving a defining impact on their lives.
Christian, Wolfgang's son, remembered Diana as a woman filled with love, compassion, and a zest for life. He was fond of her music, her laughter, and her delicious ratatouille which she perfected during their stay in Nice on the Côte d'Azur. He affirmed that her love is compelling him to share that same affection and passion with his own family and loved ones.
After the tributes by her closest family, three of Diana's accomplished former students highlighted her impact as an exceptional teacher.
Sunju Koh spoke passionately about the profound influence Diana had on her life and career as a professional musician. Not only did she cherish Diana's legacy for herself, but she also expressed how it continues to shape the lives of her own students through the teachings she inherited. Sunju then moved the audience with her piano renditions of the hymns "Amazing Grace" and "It is well with my Soul." Her music heightened the emotion in the room, and conveyed the depth of Diana's impact.
Francesca and Theresa Cillis, two sisters equally touched by Diana's influence, shared moving and enthusiastic tributes of their own. They credited Diana not only with shaping them into accomplished pianists and musicians but also for being a guiding and inspirational presence during their challenging adolescence. In their own words, Diana was a "guiding light in the tunnel of their youth" and a "gift and blessing" in their lives. Their tributes painted a vivid portrait of Diana's extraordinary life and work, capturing the essence of her love, music, and devotion.
The session concluded with written tributes by dear friends John and Beth Bandler:
John Bandler reminded the audience of Diana's grace, warmth, elegance, and her infectious passion for music. While working on a novel that featured a young piano teacher, John had attended one of Diana's Masterclasses to gain some insight into the personality of such a character. At that occasion he, in his own words, was "blown away by how Diana emboldened her students to venture beyond just the mastering of the mechanics of their instrument, but to unleash their own inner voices". What a poignant way to express the essence of Diana's teaching!
Beth Bandler struck a lighter note by recalling delightful experiences shared with Diana while they accompanied their husbands to conferences in Paris and Pavia. While these conferences were serious business for their husbands, Beth and Diana never failed to seize every chance to revel in hilarious and amusing situations. These moments became joyful, cherished memories. Diana's enthusiasm for these trips was evident, as she eagerly looked forward to reconnecting with the numerous friends she had made over the years.
For copyright and privacy reasons, the eulogy texts and recordings presented at Diana's Celebration of Life are password protected. To obtain access, please contact Wolfgang Hoefer to request a username and password. Once you have received them, please click/tap this button to access the Download Page.
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Updated 30 July 2023.
