Diane Ellen Gray (Poland) Wilson QSM JP (1935 - 2023)

Born 1 Mar 1935 in New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of James Murray Wilson — married 1955 in New Zealand

Died 4 Jun 2023 at age 88 in Auckland, New Zealand

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Biography

Diane (Poland) Wilson QSM JP is Notable.

Diane was born in 1935. She was the daughter of Leo Mervyn Poland and Alma Lorraine Carlyle Gray. ^[1] She was the sister of Ross and sister in law of John Lewis.

She married James Murray Wilson at King's College Chapel, Auckland in 1955.^[2] Their daughters include A. Jane Wilson later Hulst.

In the 2016 New Year's honours, Diane was Awarded a Queen's Service Medal for "services to genealogy and the community."

Her citation notes that Diane was President of the Auckland branch of the Plunket Society from 1974 to 1977 and was instrumental in the establishment of the day stay houses for mothers with feeding difficulties or sleep problems while on the Board of the Karitane Hospital.

She was a member of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZGS) from 1983, a member of the governing Council of the Society from 2012 to 2015 including acting as Vice-President. In 2007, she was made a Life Member. Diane was Convenor of the St John’s Branch of NZGS for 10 years. She headed the Chocolate Fish Team which digitised approximately half a million records in the NZGS collection including cemetery records, burial records, electoral rolls, church records, and marriage records. Record sales raised more than $200,000 for the NZSG.

Since 2005, Diane was a volunteer at the Eastern Bays Hospice shop on a weekly basis.

She passed away in on 4 Jun 2023^[3] and was cremated privately.

"Diane was cherished and loved by her family and friends and this was reciprocated. Diane especially enjoyed the company of her family and her many visitors after her terminal diagnosis. She remained interested in everything to the end. Aside from a life involved in serving the community her lasting and most satisfying work is the Wilson Collection."

Sources

1. ↑ New Zealand Govt - Births, Deaths & Marriages Online Birth: 1935/30589 Poland Diane Ellen Gray Parents: Alma Lorraine Carlyle and Leo Mervyn
2. ↑ The Wilson Collection Marriage:

   Surname POLAND

   Forenames Diane Ellen Gray

   Year 1955

   Place Of Marriage Kings College Chapel, Auckland

   Source Of Data Certificate sighted

   Groom Given Names James Murray

   Groom Surname WILSON

3. ↑ New Zealand Govt - Births, Deaths & Marriages Online Death: 2023/16777 Wilson Diane Ellen Gray DOB: 1 March 1935

• “Diane Wilson Obituary (1935 - 2023) - Auckland - The New Zealand Herald.” Legacy.com, June 6, 2023. https://www.legacy.com/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/diane-wilson-obituary?id=52145280.

• Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet New Zealand - New Year Honours 2016 - Citations for The Queen's Service Medal