Diane Wilks Hibbard

Diane Wilks Hibbard was born on March 27, 1963 at Calgary, Alberta, to Gerald G. M. Hibbard, a decorated World War II veteran of the European Theatre of war and co-founder of Sun Oil Co. (now Suncor) and Lillian E. O. Luedtke, a nurse. Diane passed away at Foothills Medical Center at 0401 hrs, Saturday January 8, 2022, in the arms of her only brother, Mark G. Hibbard.

Diane’s life was a wonderful adventure. She attended McKenzie’s French Kindergarten in River Park. At the age of three years old, she was accepted into the elite Piano Studio of Lyn Walker and Jean Duvall to begin training as a Classical Concert Pianist. She was also educated at the elite Tweedsmuir Girls School, graduating with a Honors Pin. She next attended the Calgary Christian School. She then graduated with Honors in Science & Chemistry from Bishop Carroll High School in 1980.

Pursuing her academic studies, Diane attended the University of Calgary, graduating with an Honors Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies in 1992. A world-level expert on Jewish history, culture, language and religion, Diane traveled twice to Israel, first in 1992 and later for a much longer visit with her brother Mark in 2010-11.

A gifted music teacher, Diane was regarded by her peers as a world class expert in music theory. She was frequently consulted by music students in Calgary who required elite music theory coaching in order to pass their music program entrance exams at the university level.

Diane was plagued by ill health for much of her life. She suffered from life-threatening asthma and allergies from the 1970’s onward, and developed Clinical Depression around 1989-90. As a result, Diane was deeply misunderstood by many people who met her and judged her by their own standards of mental health.

A brilliant, gifted musician and a talented, award winning science and math student, Diane loved music, animals and traveling. With her brother Mark, Diane visited numerous places, including the British Isles, Israel, the Philippines, Mexico, Egypt, Jordan, Cuba and the Caribbean, as well as Florida, California, New York City, Boston and Washington D.C.. Determined to study Jewish Rabbinical culture, Diane lived in Montreal, Quebec for six months in 2010 with her brother Mark while she studied Jewish Law at the Chabad Lubavitch Institute.

Diane was also employed as a Receptionist at the Crowfoot Medicentre Clinic in 2014-15 and enjoyed helping patients with their various medical needs.

Diane is predeceased by her parents, Gerald G. M. Hibbard and Lillian E.O. Luedtke, and survived by her brother Mark G. Hibbard.

Diane Wilks Hibbard will be always remembered as a brilliant, fiery, sometimes contrarian person and a uniquely compassionate soul who gave her all in this life, and whose passing leaves a emptiness that can never be filled again.

A Funeral Service will be held for Diane at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Foothills Stake Center (30 Everstone Boulevard SW, Calgary) on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 3:00 pm.