Obituary of J. Diane Bormke

The death of J. Diane Bormke of Grand Bay-Westfield, wife of the late George D. Bormke, occurred on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at her residence. Born at Saint John, she was a daughter of the late Kenneth and Florence (Murray) McAlpine. Diane was a well-known and very active member of her community, and served her community in various capacities over the years. She owned the River Valley News, and was co-author of “Up Country Memories”, and co-editor with Linda Aiton of “Bodies in the Back Yard”. She was a former president of the Grand Bay Chamber of Commerce, and was a former member of the Saint John Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the Board of Directors of Enterprise Saint John, the Canadian Business Development Bank, and was a founding member of the Saint John High School Alumni. Active in political circles, Diane served as a Councillor for the town of Grand Bay from 1982-1988, and was President of the Grand Bay Progressive Conservative Riding Association, and the New Brunswick Southwest Conservative Riding Association, as well as holding various executive positions within the Progressive Conservative Party and the Conservative Party of Canada. She was also a Past President of the Saint John Genealogical Society; the Kiwanis Lodge of Western Kings; and the Lower St. John River Promotion Association. Diane was a Master Official of Competitive Swimming, who helped organize the Canada Summer Games in Saint John, and worked at the Commonwealth and Pan Pacific Games as well as many other international meets. Her life was committed to making her community a better place for everyone, and Diane was recognized for her contributions to the community through the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Chamber of Commerce Citizenship Award for Community Service. Diane is survived by her children, Marta McGovern (Paul) of Saint John, Thomas Bormke (Colleen) of Kamloops, BC, and Janet Moore (Christopher) of Abbotsford, BC; grandchildren Rebekka McGovern, Sean McGovern, Lacey-Lynn Bormke, Mya Bormke, Jordan Moore, and Lauren Moore; great grandson Tyson Hope-McGovern; sisters Sally Tyson (David) of Grimbsy, ON, and Marcia McAlpine-Macaulay of Saint John; a brother, Donald McAlpine (Suzanne) of Chester Basin, NS; and several nieces and nephews. Although there will be no visitation time, relatives and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Diane’s life which will be held on Monday, October 27, 2008, beginning at 1:00 PM from Branch # 69 of the Royal Canadian Legion, Wilson Street, Saint John West. Diane had requested no flowers; instead, remembrances to the Diane Bormke Educational Fund at Saint John High School would be appreciated by the family, and may be made at Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424), in whose care the funeral arrangements are made. www.brenansfh.com.