Beautiful, extraordinary, fun-loving, nine-time cancer survivor Dionne Warner passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021. She was 55. Her husband, Graham, shared this eloquent obituary. It will come as no surprise to anyone who knew Dionne that she co-wrote her obituary with Graham, and she also made decisions about what her last day on Earth would look like.
Dionne Warner was a remarkable woman. Strong. Courageous. Inspiring.Since her first cancer diagnosis in 1995, Dionne chose to be upbeat, positive, and grateful for every moment of every day. Through eight more diagnoses over the next 25 years, Dionne shared her hope, laughter, courage, and strength with thousands of people in Canada and around the world. With every new diagnosis, she gave herself 24 hours to say, "Why me?" and then she focused on "Why not me? And what am I going to do about it?"
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Dionne Warner went into her first chemotherapy treatment for her Stage IV cancers dressed up and ready to fight, Dec. 17, 2009 |
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Author Deana Driver with Dionne and Graham Warner at the book launch for Never Leave Your Wingman: Dionne and Graham Warner's Story of Hope, June 16, 2011 |
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Dionne and Graham Warner dance into one of Dionne's chemo treatments, July 2011 |
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Dionne Warner and Deana Driver at a Never Leave Your Wingman book signing, Feb. 7, 2013 |
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Dionne Warner and author Deana Driver at a book signing, "Movember" 2016 |
We all need hope. We all need love. We all need courage. We all need laughter. This was Dionne Warner to the core.
There is a moving poem about what cancer cannot do. It was read at my husband's memorial service and it applies again and again. Paraphrasing the pieces of one version that speaks to me today: "Cancer cannot cripple love... shatter hope... kill friendship... shut out memories... silence courage."
Cancer can never take away Dionne Warner's "Live your life to the fullest - No regrets!" mantra or the exuberant "Woo Hoo!' that marked her entrances and celebrations. It will never diminish the good work she did in raising funds for cancer research or in raising the spirits of thousands of cancer patients and their families. Many will remember that forever.
I extend my deepest condolences to Dionne's wingman, Graham, and their family and friends. Dionne was much loved and will be sorely missed.
Fly high and free, Angel D. Thank you for the light you shone in our lives. We will never forget you. We will continue to carry that light for you.
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Buy the Never Leave Your Wingman book from DriverWorks Ink
Buy the e-book: Kobo, Amazon Kindle
----------------------------------------------------An article in the Regina Leader-Post on Dionne Warner's passing
An article by CBC Saskatchewan on Dionne Warner's passing
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