Dianne Leslie Friesen

With profound sadness we, the family, announce that Dianne Leslie Friesen of Sydney, N.S., age 69, a faithful servant of Jesus, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Saviour, surrounded by family and friends, on May 6, 2025 at Hospice Cape Breton. She was the daughter of the late Julius and Boissivane (Bramhill) Friesen.

Born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Dianne lived an abundant and full life obtaining an undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and a Masters degree from the University of Guelph in molecular biology. She worked at the Woman’s College Hospital in Toronto and at the University of Prince Edward Island. After a short-term mission trip to Bangladesh, and a summer semester of linguistics at Trinity Western University, she left her job in PEI and began theological and linguistic training in earnest. Dianne began serving as a missionary for Wycliffe Bible translators in 1992, serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and afterward in Cameroon, where she served the Moloko language project as a Linguist/Translator until January 2008.  She returned to Canada and started working on the Mi'kmaq language project—living and working in Nova Scotia and serving the Mi'kmaq people of Cape Breton Island where she functioned as a facilitator of the translation work. She encouraged translation and studied the language with the Mi'kmaq people.  She resigned from Wycliffe in July 2015.  She continued her work and Mi'kmaq studies through a PhD program, which she successfully completed in 2022 in the midst of her battle with cancer. 

Her accomplishments and awards are too numerous to mention here. She has written many scientific and linguistic papers, spoken at many conferences, and touched many lives with her warm and friendly personality. She leaves a legacy and network of friends all over the world.

She will always be remembered as a compassionate friend, a lover of people, and a maker of delicious desserts – especially pies. She was an avid reader. Her hobbies include hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and gardening. She participated in choirs, church worship teams and dragon boat racing in several provinces.

Dianne is survived by her sister, Lynne (Bart) Gragtmans, nieces: Sarah (Andrew) Henderson, Ruth (Greg) Bartlett, Evelyn (Stephen) Gagnon, Amy Gragtmans, along with nephew Stephen Gragtmans whom she loved with all her heart. She has also left behind many dear friends here in Cape Breton and around the world.

 As per Dianne’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Dianne’s life will be held at 2 pm, Monday, May 12, at the Grace Fellowship Church at 3 Meadowbrook Drive, Sydney Mines. Online condolences can be left by writing on the tribute wall of the obituary page.

We would like to express our gratitude to the doctors and nurses, staff and volunteers at Hospice Cape Breton who have provided expert and compassionate care during Dianne’s illness.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hope House a project to which Dianne has volunteered many hours.

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