April 16, 2025 A life well lived

I’ll never forget that October night, more than 50 years ago.

I first met Don Webster on a blind date when we were both freshmen at the University of Toronto. We had a good time and encountered each other frequently after that evening. Little did I know Don would be the person I would marry. 

Don and I had so much in common. We were both small-town kids living in the big city. We grew up in the United Church and we were both very close to our families—both immediate and extended.

The months turned into years and in what seemed like the blink of an eye we had our kids, and they had kids. Don and I shared so many years investing our time, energy and love into our family. Our children and grandchildren were always our first priority. Don’s love of travel was wonderful, and he managed to complete his full bucket list with a trip to Egypt.

Don was a very smart, capable and successful man. You’d never have known that he lived with type 1 diabetes from the age of 11. Managing diabetes was a lot harder then than it is today, but Don was never one to complain. He just did what he had to in order to keep himself as healthy as possible and go on living his life.

I’ll never forget the day when he told me of his greatest fear. A doctor had told him that because of his diabetes, he wouldn’t live past the age of 65. Don was stoic about it and never talked much about his fears, but that prediction lived with him like a death sentence. He was determined to live his life as fully as he could for as long as he could—and that’s exactly what he did.

Don had a successful business career and loved to recharge his energy by being outside. He loved to work around the house and was a natural when it came to landscaping and gardening. Our cottage near Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario was his special refuge every summer.

Everyone loved and respected Don, in large part I suppose because he was such a loving and respectful man.

I’m happy to say that Don reached his 65th birthday and then went on to enjoy 10 more birthdays after that. But eventually, his diabetes caught up with him and he passed away in 2019 at the age of 75. He’s been gone for six years now, and I still think of him every day.

As he neared the end of his life, he told me that he only had one regret. He knew that he wouldn’t see our nine-year-old granddaughter grow up and that saddened both of us deeply. He also told me as he approached the end that he had a request for me.

Don told me that after he passed, he would like me to make a generous donation to Diabetes Canada. He wanted that donation to be directed toward research for children with diabetes. His dream was that his grandchildren—and all future children—would never have to receive a diabetes diagnosis at such a young age. It was very important to him that his life’s legacy would include an investment in the well-being of tomorrow’s children.

After he passed away, I carried through on his wish. I made a donation to Diabetes Canada in his name and in his memory.
 

Now that the gift to Diabetes Canada has been made, I feel that Don’s legacy is complete.

My husband has left a beautiful footprint on the world he left behind. That footprint includes our wonderful children and grandchildren, his business accomplishments, the gardens he created and all the relationships he cherished.

I was fortunate to have such an interesting and caring partner in Don. We were able to enjoy many varied activities over all our years together. Don was most thoughtful, and we had a rich life with our family and friends.  Yes, I miss him, but fond memories carry me forward in life.  It is my hope that my donation in Don’s memory will help create a day when no child is ever told “you have diabetes.” 

Want to learn more about how you can make a difference and leave a legacy for those living with diabetes? Visit Gift in Your Will.