It is from a place of love and profound sadness that the family of Dianne Schnalzer (nee: Scrimgeour) in her 84th year, share the announcement of her death on August 26, 2026.
Dianne was married to the love of her life, Lou V Schnalzer (2001) in 1963.
They were a couple since their early teen years after he carried her across a mud-puddle while out with a group of friends who were stealing watermelons. He literally swept her off her feet.
Dianne was born April 13, 1942 and was the only child of Jerry Scrimgeour (deceased) and Gladys Scrimgeour (nee:Pawson) (deceased) in Tillsonburg, Ontario.
She is survived by her two children, Lisa (David) and Lou (Melinda), her granddaughter Lana (Cale) and her great-grandson Connor and her granddaughter Grace (Josh), her granddaughter Claire, her granddaughter Maia (Alex) and her granddaughter Lena.
Dianne, affectionately known as BooBoo by all of her granddaughters, took the greatest delight in all of the girls’ endeavours and loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother.
She was exceptionally proud of how accomplished and kind all of her granddaughters had grown up to be as adults.
She is also deeply missed by her cherished friend, Skip Mills.
Dianne was an educator for over 35 years with the Scarborough Board of Education at BirchCliff Public School, well-known for her passion for Geography, History, Art, Drama, Literature and Phys Ed.
She wrote the curriculum for Early Canadiana Pioneer Studies and influenced countless young minds to be inquisitive, hungry for knowledge and to think independently.
She was very proud of the achievements of “her children”, who she kept in touch with over the years.
From a young age, Dianne was an accomplished ballet dancer and continued her love of dance as a bellydancer well into her silver years.
Dianne Gladys Schnalzer was an astute, local businesswoman in Colborne, who was renowned for her antique store, Aberfeldy Hall Antiques.
She was a skilled and knowledgeable curator and appraiser in Victoriana and Early Canadian antiques, glass and porcelain.
She applied her knowledge of early settlers and antiques as a first-person actor at the Pickering Pioneer Museum before moving to Colborne, Ontario.
Her absolute delight was opening up her home, Aberfeldy Hall, for Halloween as the Witch’s House for 23 consecutive years.
Upwards of 350 children would visit (with parents and grandparents in tow) and were greeted by the Victorian-dressed witch who graced the grand foyer, regaling in spooky vignettes, costumed actors, Gregorian chants and bags of goodies.
Victorian Christmas also saw the doors flung open to the community to visions of no less than 17 Christmas trees one year, decorated in sparkling, historical splendor.
Dianne was very proud to be the ambassador and owner of her home, a rare Richardsonian Queen Anne residence, maintained in its original state from 1899 and featured on the historic house tour.
Dianne loved sports, mainly hockey and baseball, gardening, dancing, art, collecting, auctions and yardsales, good wine, creating a warm and welcoming environment for family and friends, cats, supporting many local charities, crocheting and donating 100’s of woolen hats, scarves and blankets and providing a free box of goods on the porch for those wanting lovely things but were on a tight budget and all things that sparkled.
(She was often heard sharing “ You can never have too many sparkles.”)
Dianne was a very much loved matriarch, an elegant and generous woman, proud of her family and her Scottish lineage and associations to Braveheart. (Alexander Scrimgeour was deeded land for his service and built Dudhope Castle in Dundee) and her passing leaves a very significant void in the lives of many.
A Celebration of Life will be held at MacCoubrey Funeral Home on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 12 noon at 30 King St E, Cobourg, ON K9A 1K7.
Please wear your best sparkles as we celebrate her life well-lived.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to the Toronto Zoo or an animal rescue of your choice or Northumberland Hills Hospital.
Profound gratitude to paramedics Trent and Mike, the Northumberland Hills Hospital Emergency Nursing Team and Technicians, Drs. Morganstein, Fletcher and Mulé, and Clinical Nurse Specialist Carolyn Wilson for all of their kindness, care and support.
Celebration of Life
MacCoubrey Funeral Home Reception Centre
30 King Street East, Cobourg
Saturday October 31, 2026
12:00pm
