The world has lost a bright light. It is with great sadness we share that Susie Stanley Diamond passed away peacefully on Monday, September 30, surrounded by her family and close friends. We are all blessed to have known her and loved her, and to be loved by her in return.
Her absence will be profoundly felt
August 6, 1969 – September 30, 2024 The world has lost a bright light. It is with great sadness we share that Susie Stanley Diamond passed away peacefully on Monday, September 30, surrounded by her family and close friends. We are all blessed to have known her and loved her, and to be loved by her in return. She leaves behind her devoted husband, Steve; two adoring children, Lindsay and Cooper; loving parents, Mary and Peter; and cherished brother Tim and his wife Charlotte. Her absence will be profoundly felt by her Diamond family including Joanne; Tim and Jennifer; Mark and Patti; and Chris and Sajeda; as well as by her nieces and nephews including God-daughters Nicole Stanley and Taylor Diamond; Victoria Stanley, and Ava, Griffin and Chloe Diamond. She will also be deeply missed and never forgotten by her tight-knit circles of friends. Susie had a truly wonderful life. Born at Toronto General Hospital, Susie’s nickname was Summertime because, in addition to her obvious beauty, she radiated brightness and warmth.
She grew up in north Toronto (Henry Farm) surrounded by dozens of kids and a close community of young families including The Bartons – Tori Barton would become Susie’s lifelong friend. The Stanleys moved to York Mills in 1978 where Susie attended Owen Blvd School before heading off to Havergal College. Her passionate association with Havergal started in Fall of 1981 when she entered Grade 7. Susie fully committed to life at Havergal excelling at academics and athletics (and the odd social event) and was selected as a School Prefect before graduating in 1988. From the Class of ’88 emerged many of Susie’s most enduring friendships, and several of these friends were with her on the afternoon of her passing. Following in her Mom’s footsteps, Susie spent her summers at Camp Tanamakoon. She progressed from camper to staff to devoted member of Tan Alumni, attending reunions and retreats in Algonquin Park. Her love of summer camp manifested into Susie volunteering as a counsellor at Camp Oochigeas for young children battling cancer. Susie attended Western University graduating with Honours in 1992. Among the happiest days of her life, Western is where she met dozens of everlasting friends, most notably her Gamma Phi Beta sorority sisters. Her last evening out was the recent Gamma Reunion in Toronto which she absolutely loved.
In 2004, Susie met Steve Diamond, “her person.” They were married in April of 2006 and started their life together in Oakville, Ontario. They became devoted parents to Lindsay Grace in 2007 and Cooper Jack “Danger” in 2008. Family was always important to Susie; Lindsay and Cooper were her life. She called her parents every Sunday; enjoyed the holidays at Rosedale and in Oakville; and treasured time at family cottages in Muskoka and Lake of Bays. Susie is loved within many Oakville circles, leaving a lasting impression at the Oakville Club, Oakville Golf Club, and the infamous TOWL club, along with her Book Club. Always supportive of Steve and the kids, Susie even acted as the reluctant hostess of “The White Party,” Steve’s annual party for his office’s real estate clients. To say Susie was active is an understatement. She started her love of sports at the Granite Club where she played badminton and tennis. She also enjoyed hiking, skiing, paddleboarding, golfing, running, and yoga. In recent years, she earnestly began to follow in her Hall of Fame Grandmother Effie’s footsteps by starting an ambitious career as a curler. This love of sports translated to her life as a Mom, spending many memorable hours cheering from the stands in rinks, in gyms and on fields. Susie was also a very passionate but frustrated Leaf fan; hopefully, she can help steer them from the heavens. Susie was dedicated to her profession of Executive Recruitment and also found time to give back to her community. In addition to volunteering at the kids’ school, she organized The Shoebox Project within the Oakville community to help empower women at risk of homelessness and sponsored a cancer chemo recovery room at the Oakville Hospital. Susie was admired for her beautiful blonde hair and her simple yet elegant style.
She will be missed everyday by everyone who knew her. Her warmth, her compassion, and her thoughtfulness are unmatched, and will stay with us forever. The family wishes to send our deepest thanks to the Neurology and Trauma Unit Doctors at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, with a special acknowledgement to Dr. Natalie Wong, her heroic, “honourary” sister-in-law. Natalie provided Susie and her entire family with extraordinary comfort during this very difficult time. A Celebration of Life will be held in Susie’s honour in the coming weeks.
