Passed away peacefully with 2 of her daughters by her side in Greymouth on Wednesday 14 March 2018. Loved partner of Barry,
loved unconventional mother of Sue, Dan (both of Canada), Pam, and Kate (both New Zealand)
Rest easy, Di you’re now free to hike the trails. These boots are made for walkin’.
A gathering to celebrate Di’s life and art will be held in Reefton at a later date.
I have a number of the paintings of that Diana Berard painted. I first saw her paintings on the wall of a small restaurant where I stopped with a friend of ming aftert fishing for the day. I was caught by the paintings on the wall and ask the owner who the painter was, and where did she live. Fortunately the owner told us her address. We then proceed to her home and was welcomed . We said we liked the painting on the wall of the restaurant and was it for sale. She agreed to sell it to us. We returned to the restaurant and claimed the painting. It is in my home in Rome, Italy. Subsequently, I contacted Di by mail and ask her to send me some fotos of other paintings. She did, and I bought 3 more paintings. We love them.
By the way, I was at an auction in Rome and I saw one of her paintings up for auction. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the auction so I lost on on the possibility of yet another of Di’s paintings.
Time passes. I wanted to call her and find if I could get some more paintings. When I pulled up her name on the internet, I found that she had passed. I’m very sorry to hear this as will miss this very talented artist. May she rest in peace. R.I.P.
Dear Earl
I have just seen the comment of yours regarding Di Berard and feel I have to write to you. I have just received a reply from New Zealand trying to track down some more info about Dianna. They did not know of her but sent me her funeral information and in that I saw your message.
We also saw a painting of hers in a shop in Reefton some years ago and I just fell in love with the painting, so much that we stayed the unplanned night there as the shop was closed. I got the address of the painter and she was such a lovely lady. Our painting is of her two grandsons playing chess in front of a window with the greenery outside. I saw my own sons in that painting and just had to have it. She told me that her paintings were regarded as ‘cafe paintings’ which I cannot agree with. The ones we saw were wonderful and I wish we had bought another.
I wonder now which ones you have?!!
Regards
Alice Harvey
alicehome@hotkey.net.au