Bessie Diggins

With profound sadness, the Hook family is announcing the passing of Bessie on May 2, 2026.

She was predeceased by her parents Katherine and Fred Hook, her siblings, Bill, Mary, Sylvia, Alec, Joe, Ralph, Jerry, Barney, Peter, Irene, & Ted, leaving Larry the only one left out of 13.

Bessie’s husband Eric Diggins worked for the Alberta Liquor Control Board and loved to golf. They enjoyed many outings to the Derrick Club and lived in their west Edmonton house. Bessie loved to garden and their yard was filled with flowers and shrubs. She had family and friends over for many homemade meals. She loved to bake and cook, her perogies and flapper pie were to die for.

Her table included individual, fancy little gravy boats that she hand-crafted in ceramics. She was amazing at ceramics, and her house was filled with many pieces on display. Christmas eve at the Hook farm was a gathering place and Bessie and Eric brought presents out on Christmas day for the younger children.

Bessie was devastated when Eric died in 1980, the emptiness was overwhelming. After a few years she decided to sell her lovely house and flowers and purchased a great condo in the Oliver district. Soon she had friends and family visiting her and she continued to entertain with her awesome cooking skills.

Then she met George Rogers and they went on to enjoy the dinner theatre at Stage West and
he drove Bessie to appointments and shopping. George was a special companion for 30 years before passing in 2022, leaving Bessie to adjust to a new life again.

She was a special guest at family dinners over the years, helping with the carving of the turkey. Later she started to walk down to Uncle Albert’s for lunch most days and had her favourite hot dog for supper. She also was a hostess at the donut shop every Sunday, where she greeted people and assisted them in choosing the perfect donut. She was even featured on the
news!

Bessie took pride in how she dressed and always had her hair just perfect. You couldn’t miss her fancy glasses that she wore, and she made an impression wherever she went. She loved talking to family members on the phone and always had a joke or two to tell you. She also loved going to the casino whenever she had the chance.
Bessie also made several trips to Vancouver Island, visiting her brothers and sisters over the years.

After her fall, she spent time in the hospital before being transferred to hospice, having several nieces, nephews and friends visiting her. She had a long and glorious life and had a sharp mind and kept her wit right up to the end. She was a star in the Hook family and will be missed.