In Memoriam for Mumsy

For our mother, Wendy Banta, August 12, 1942 - February 18, 2026

We are saddened to announce the passing of Wendy Margot McDiarmid after a brief illness.

Wendy was born in Victoria, August 12, 1942, to Harold McDiarmid and Margot McDiarmid. Her remarkable toughness revealed itself immediately as she was one of the first “blue” babies to survive in Canada.

Wendy grew up in Salmon Arm with her three younger brothers: Ian, Richard, and Harold (Greg) McDiarmid and eventually moved to Smithers, B.C., where she raised her children, Trevor Juby, Susan Juby, Aaron Banta, and Scott Banta.

Wendy loved nothing better than a long stroll and she and her friends spent countless hours hiking around the Bulkley Valley and Skeena area. She spent at least one night in a garbage bag while lost on a remote mountain trail. Another time she took her oldest son for an afternoon walk in Terrace, B.C. The walk lasted so long he worried that she wouldn’t turn around until they’d reached Prince Rupert.

She was a friend to all birds, a passionate reader, a gifted gardener, and a wonderful cook, though she would never allow so many adjectives to be used to describe her. She married four times before she was forty, but probably wouldn’t want us to dwell on that, iconic as it is.

Her early hardiness lasted throughout her life. After her children were born she visited a doctor exactly once in forty years, and then apologized profusely for taking up valuable medical resources. At the end of her life, a surgeon said, “People with her condition don’t look and sound like she does.” It was true. Wendy was strong beyond reckoning.

In her seventies Wendy moved to Nanaimo, BC, to be closer to two of her adult children and her granddaughter. Any worries we had that undertaking such a move late in life would lead to isolation were immediately put to rest when she joined a full slate of senior fitness classes, volunteered at the Port Theatre, the community garden, and at Literacy Nanaimo.

She had a rare gift for friendship and her circle included people of all ages and from all walks of life. For many people, Wendy’s friendship seemed to come along at just the right time. She was part of a lively, close community at The Crest apartments, and was an absolute icon to the dogs in the building. She treasured her monthly correspondence with her best and oldest friend Marjorie Phillips — in over 60 years the two of them never missed a letter.

Her passing has left a hole in many lives and she is deeply missed by her brother, Ian McDiarmid, her sisters-in-law, her children’s partners, her nieces and nephews, particularly Jessica McDiarmid, the folks at Literacy Nanaimo, and her various exercise groups. Even when she was very ill she insisted on getting out of bed to work on her Qigong moves.

Wendy was extremely close to her adult children and enjoyed feeding them and worrying extravagantly about them, particularly if they went anywhere that required driving. This was perhaps related to the fact that she was not a gifted motorist and was best suited to driving in Smithers, a town with only two traffic lights.

Particularly precious was her relationship with her granddaughter, Emily. Wendy was not one of those mothers who was constantly advocating for grandchildren, but when she got one, she made the absolute most of it.

Wendy is predeceased by her beloved brothers, Richard McDiarmid and Greg McDiarmid. We like to think they are all lounging around on a sunny porch somewhere, eating fresh Okanagan corn on the cob, rushed straight from the garden, and enjoying a fine old gossip.

Thank you to our mother, Wendy. We miss you extravagantly and we thank you for everything.

Donations in Wendy’s name can be made to Literacy Nanaimo or Nanaimo’s Palliative Care unit. She would also probably like it if you give the next dog you meet a friendly pat or appreciate the next bird you notice and think fondly of her.