Diane Mary Gray

Diane and I grew up in Algoma, Wisconsin on the west side of this small town. The location of our home was in an undeveloped area on the west side of this small town. Diane and I were the two youngest of the eight children in the family and grew up together as very close sisters. We did everything together, mischief included! We attended St.Mary's grade school as had our older sisters and brother did, graduating and going on to St. Joseph's Academy(an all girls' Catholic high school) in Green Bay, Wi. We lived with an older married sister, her husband and five children. In exchange for being given a home during the week with them, we were expected to help with taking care of the five children and doing house chores. After Diane graduated in 1956 from St. Joseph's Academy, she returned home to help take care of our mother who had suffered a stroke and was paralyzed while my dad continued his night time job at the Algoma Utility. Diane worked days in neighboring community of Kewaunee, Wi., at the Kewaunee Memorial Hospital as a surgical scrub nurse. She loved her job and was loved by all doctors and nurses she worked with. She became very respected for her diligent work there! When I graduated from St. Joe's, I entered Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee. Diane enabled me to do this as she chose to continue her work in Kewaunee during the day and take care of mom at night. I brought home a male friend one weekend to our home in Algoma and he brought a friend along. This friend was to eventually become Diane's husband, Terry!. Their relationship blossomed and as Terry finished out his naval career, they married, moving to different naval bases in U.S. and Europe. I took by first full time teaching job in Kewaunee, Wi and lived at home, our Dad now retired from his utility job and taking care of mom for the years that followed until her death. When Terry retired from the navy, his job took him to various places in Wisconsin and eventually they settled in the Milwaukee area in the home Diane currently owned. She continued to work, Terry retired and became the Gray chief cook, cleaner and bottle washer. His health declined and after his death, Diane retired, herself now having various health issues. Diane and Terry were very loving and caring individuals, putting others before themselves, especially their children. When her sisters closest to her in age lost their husbands, they became even closer and often did things together, enjoying each other's company. Recently Billy Graham died, I believe the day after Diane's death. All the major networks were carrying various interviews that he had had on various topics during his life. One I listened to was on the topic of death. He was asked about death and what it meant. His answer was dead means having a new address. It means my address is now being in the presence of God! Asked what he thought people would say about him after his death? His answer was the only thing that mattered was when the Lord would say, "well done, good and faithful servant." And so that is what we say today about Diane's death--she has changed her address. She is now in the presence of the Lord and he is saying to her, well done, good and faithful servant.

Carol, Henry, Shawn, Karen, Aidan and Jacob, I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your mom, mother in law and grandma. I have you all in my thoughts and prayers. I wish I could be there for you. All my love Lisa Di Giacomo

I remember going to Aunt Diane's house when she lived in Norfolk Virginia while Uncle Terry was in the Navy. That was in the 1960's when our parents took us on a Family vacation to Washington D.C. Will Love and Miss her. May she rest in Peace Amen.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.