Dianna Lynn Watson (nee Gilroy)

Peacefully, on January 19, 2026, at the Portage and District General Hospital, with her family by her side, Dianna Watson passed away a few weeks shy of her 80th birthday.

Left to mourn her passing are her daughters Linda Watson-Bull (David) and Laura Jackson; granddaughters Cassandra, Jamie, Morgan (Brad) and Mackenzie (Carter); and great grandchildren Gavin, Leah, Brianna, Ozzie, Romi and Rowyn.  She is also survived by her bothers Paul (Anne Marie) Gilroy, Ernie (Wendy) Gilroy; sister Susan Gibson; and brother-in-law Gordie (Shivan) Anderson.  She will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, who all adored their auntie Amma almost as much as she loved them.

She was predeceased by the love of her life, Billy Watson, her parents Jack and Pearleen Gilroy; mother and father-in-law Wilda and Walter Anderson; sisters-in-law Marion Grantham, Ruth Bailey, Gail Gilroy and Beryl Watson; and brothers-in-law Bev Bailey, Randy Gibson, Derk Grantham and Dick Watson.

She was born on February 12, 1946, in Portage la Prairie to Jack and Pearl Gilroy. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Calgary. In 1959, they returned to Portage where if you ever heard her tell it, she and her friends and classmates invented fun and shenanigans – and anyone who knew her knew there was likely some truth to that.

She fell head over heels in love with Billy Watson (and he her) and they were married in 1967; Linda followed later that year and then Laura in 1969. She made sure there was always enough and she used her many natural talents to make our house a home.

She had a sharp wit and natural comedic talent. Her legendary one-liners will be remembered and repeated with giggles, for years to come.

She was a classic beauty with her striking green eyes, beautiful skin, and warm inviting smile that lit up the room; and she was always a sharp dresser with a keen eye for style, detail and quality.

She had many different jobs and careers over the years at The Portage Mutual Insurance Company, Lloyd Green Realty, The Creamery, Hill’s East Drug Store, Inter City Gas, and finally Red River College Portage Campus, until retiring in 2006. She enjoyed and maintained friendships with many her co-workers and clients for many years to come.

She volunteered at school, church, the campaign trail, and various other community events; and she believed in supporting local business. If she couldn’t get it locally, she was careful to buy Canadian when she could, long before it was the thing to do.

She had sincere concern and empathy for those in need or down on their luck, never hesitating to do what she could to help out. She also donated generously to multiple charities throughout her life.

She made friends whenever she went and once you were her friend - you were friend for life. We would like to especially thank her teenage friend Linda “Jonesey” Priestly, for all the love and support she gave to our Mom and us through the years.

Mom and Dad had close friendships with their siblings and in-laws. Growing up, we were surrounded by aunties, uncles, cousins, friends, music, laughs, love and fun.

Mom was a talented seamstress who made clothes for her family, including three very special wedding dresses - for her sister Sue, niece Lori, and daughter Laura; and she created countless Halloween costumes and skating dresses for her granddaughters.

She loved flowers and flower gardens (but not gardening) and was notoriously late for everything. She literally always took the time to smell the flowers.

Mom was very talented cook. She and Dad enjoyed cooking all kinds of creations and family meals together, while they bickered about proper technique or who made the bigger mess. She did-she always made the bigger mess. After she was unable to cook on her own, she still spent hours searching through her cookbook library for recipes. And she could tell you exactly where to find any favourite recipe you needed.

She followed politics with an eagle eye and always kept up with world affairs. We all knew not to call when Power and Politics was on!

Being Amma meant a great deal to her. She shared a close bond with her girls and adored them all. She especially loved watching her great-grandchildren grow. She looked forward to Sunday supper with the family, and it was always the highlight of her week. She beamed with pride while she sat at her perch watching the little ones play. Sundays won’t be the same without her. She loved and was loved, just as she was - and we hope that she knows she will always be.

The family would like to extend our thanks to Drs. Lewis, Nelson and McNair, nurses at the Portage Clinic, and Kathy at Prairie Independence for their care and compassion.

A memorial service will be held at McKenzie United Church on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 PM. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed by registering at the link below. A private family internment at Evergreen Memorial Gardens will follow in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations can be made to the Salvation Army (220 Duke Ave, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 0S6) or to a charity of one’s choice.

A tree will be planted and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com