Diana Margaret, fiercely loved by so many, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on November 9, 2016 at the age of 83. She was born September 28, 1933 in Poona, India, the daughter of Eric and Margaret Elkington. Diana spent her formative years in Victoria, B.C., growing up in a grand old house on Island Road and attending St. Margaret’s School. She graduated from McGill University with a BA in 1955. She had three children in England with her first husband, Norman Nelson and then happily took on four more with her second marriage to Bill McKay in 1981. While raising her children in North Vancouver, Diana found her passion in throwing pots, selling her pottery through craft markets in Burnaby and Vancouver. After moving to Crofton, and then later to Ladysmith, she was active with the Cowichan Valley Potters and was a founding partner of Imagine That! Artisans’ Cooperative in Duncan. Diana continued potting late into her 70s before retiring to Victoria in 2012. Diana was an avid and expert gardener. She had a love of literature that she nurtured in her children and grandchildren. Endlessly inquisitive, she was a life-long learner and was involved in Elderhostel activities for many years. She had a hunger for adventure and convinced Bill to accompany her on many hiking, kayaking, and canoeing trips. Diana also had an abiding love of nature, animals, and insects. She noted the phases of the moon, the seasons, the weather, the smallest blossom, or the turn of the leaves. She thought nothing of rescuing a spider with her hands or deadheading a stranger’s plants on walks. Diana loved people and was fascinated by all facets of humanity; she was utterly accepting of everyone, no matter their circumstances. Positive and generous, she had kind words and thoughts for everyone she met. She was infinitely loving to her children, step-children, and 16 grandchildren, treating all equally and fairly. She was a philanthropist, a gentle soul, a stoic, a good sport, and an eternal optimist. Determined and sporty to the end, Diana at 82 still bicycled daily along Dallas Road and into Beacon Hill Park for visits with the goats. Diana was predeceased by her second husband Bill McKay, brother Galt Elkington, and sister Gay Low. She is survived by her three children, Jenny Nelson (Glenn Smith), Galt Nelson (Shirley), and Cathy Killough (Lyle), step-children, Ross McKay, Wendy Sidwell, Katrina Tilley (Simon), and Peter McKay, and her 16 grandchildren: Michael, Kevin, Matthew, Kay, Evan, Emily, David, Kyle, Cameron, Stephanie, Tim, Drew, Daniel, Sophie, Rowan, and Ian. A service will be held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church at 5800 Church St, Duncan, on Friday, November 18 at 2:00 PM with a reception to follow at Shipyard Restaurant, 6145 Genoa Bay Rd, Maple Bay Marina. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice. Tributes and memories can be shared by visiting www.earthsoption.com.