October 15, 1938 - December 19, 2024
Dianne Beverley Pike, age 86, of Stratford, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2024. Born in York Township, daughter of the late John and Ruth (Trilsbeck) Parkes.
Predeceased by her husband Ralph February 26, 2018. Dianne is the loving mother of John (Christie), Jodi Doxey (David), June Leitch (Roger). Grandma Dinny to Megan, (Justin), Sarah (Ben), Jessie (Ryan), Zach, Morgan (Kurt), Kate, Carter (Makaila), Mitchell and Andrew. Great grandmother to Thomas and Mason. Sister of Joan Martin. Also survived by sisters-in-law Marie Green, Kay Tracey, Gisele Mills, brother-in-law Robert Anderson and several nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by sisters Marion Walsh (Joe), Marie Smith (Ron), sister-in-law Daphne Anderson, brothers-in-law Jack Martin, Joe Walsh, Ron Smith, Walter Pike, Don Mills, Jim Green and Joe Tracey.
The love of music, dance and movement was a large part of Dianne from a very early age. Her dance training as a young girl lead her to an extremely successful career as a fitness instructor and owner of a national fitness company, BodyFIT. Dianne began as a choreographer for Dance Fit and when the original partners split ways, Dianne purchased the Canadian rights to the company and renamed it BodyFIT. Dianne had many instructors nationwide and would travel across the country teaching fitness workshops. Dianne also had her own location in Stratford on Wellington Street called The Studio Fitness and Dance Centre. This space spanned the entire top floor of a historic downtown building with hardwood floors, high ceilings and windows along both walls. Dianne offered dance and step fitness classes as well as a traditional dance program and full gymnastics program. Dianne also had a strong following in St. Marys where she taught classes at the St. Marys Arena. This love of music, dance and fitness stayed with Dianne throughout her life. She continued her fitness at the classes offered at River Garden Retirement Home and could always be found singing and tapping her toes with the musical guests.
Dianne’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the management and staff at River Gardens Retirement Home for their amazing compassion and care of Dianne. And although her stay was brief, thank you also to the nurses at People Care Long-term Care in Tavistock. It was comforting to know she was always well cared for.
Family and friends are invited to a visitation at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Friday, December 27, from 1 – 3 p.m. A private family service will follow. Memorial donations in Dianne’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Alzheimer Society Huron Perth. www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
