Karen Gail Diamond

Karen Gail Diamond (Gore-Hickman) passed away peacefully on May 20th at the age of 63.

Karen is the daughter of Eunice and the late Des Gore-Hickman.

Karen was born on June 13, 1959 in Victoria and spent her childhood moving from city to city with each of her father’s RCMP postings. These took the family to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Ottawa and Regina. After Des’ retirement in 1973, the family settled in Saskatoon, where Karen attended Evan Hardy Collegiate.

After graduation, she began training in Calgary for a nursing career. She ultimately decided that it wasn’t her calling, and moved home to train as a dental technician. She began her career with the Saskatchewan Dental Plan, helping children in the school system. With its closure, she moved to Vancouver and became the office manager for Investors Group, where she met her husband Mel Diamond. They raised their two sons, Joshua and Noah, in Whistler and Robert’s Creek, BC.

Karen loved life in Whistler and Robert’s Creek, and made life-long friends in both. Both suited Karen’s personality. There was the fun side of Whistler and its mountain views, and the serenity of Robert’s Creek, where she lived on the ocean’s edge. She loved her daily walks with her dog, Angel. It was an annual tradition that Karen, Josh, Noah and Angel would come to Saskatoon in August for her father’s birthday.

Karen was proud of Josh and Noah and loved them dearly. Karen raised them on her own after her husband Mel passed away in 2008. Life was never the same for her without Mel.

She returned to Saskatoon in 2018 to be with family, who provided her with love and support during her final years.

Karen is survived by her sons, her mother Eunice, brother Rick Gore-Hickman (Wendy) and sister Sandy Hutchinson (Cam).

Left to mourn her are numerous nieces and nephews, her many friends, and members of the Diamond family in Quebec and Ontario. Karen was grateful for having the Diamonds in her life, and in the lives of Josh and Noah. Karen is remembered by Mark Diamond and Wendy Wiseman, Ronda and Richard Cherney, and Richard and Rhonda Diamond.

We will remember Karen for her boisterous laugh and her outgoing personality.

There is long list of people the family would like to thank.

Karen spent the last two years of her life in care at the Village in Stonebridge. During that time, Karen was fortunate to have the loving care of Karen Simonar and Ashley Mitchelmore, and their wonderful staff.

They do amazing work for their residents. Sandy will forever remember staff coming to say goodbye to Karen on the day she passed, and having a group hug.

Before Karen moved to the care unit, she lived with in-home care each day. She referred to these caregivers as her “Purples” because of the shirts they wore. Thank you to Greg Charyna and the staff at Home Instead care services for their care and companionship.

We’d like to thank Dr. Vickie Martin and the staff at the Cancer Centre for their support during Karen’s journey.

Karen would want to be remembered for the wonderful sons she raised, and for the accomplishments and enjoyment she squeezed into her 63 years.

We will miss her.