Diana was such a loving, giving person. She was the "rock" that held together a number of different groups of people. These groups leaned on Diana, and she gracefully and happily accommodated any need. She was soooo warm and loving. She had such a positive outlook. She was always genuinely happy to see just about anyone. She was a super-woman, and we all have a huge gap to fill now that she is gone.
She was three years older than me. I really looked up to her. She was much more socially gifted than me, and I remember our special talks when I was a teen. How she'd explain things to me and I really valued it. When she first came back from UC Davis for Xmas break, I was amazed at how she was in constant motion the whole time. She went from friend's house to friends house at great speed. She was a social whirlwind. And the phone would ring and it would be "Hiiiiiiiiiii!" in her high pitched squeal of delight as she connected with yet another friend. Such an amazing joy from friendship and human contact. She just loved Xmas and making food and gifts for others. She had an infinite supply of energy when it came to giving to others.
- Steve Raney, brother
9 comments:
Diana was the sweetest, most loving, thoughtful person I've ever known. And she was a great cook and a wonderful mother to her children.
- Shirley Raney, mother
To our darling daughter Diana,
You are so beautiful! You are the sweetest, loveliest, kindest, most thoughtful, compassionate, and helpful daughter we could have ever wished for. If there are angels on earth, surely you must be ours.
You have devoted your entire life to helping others; you family, friends, and the doctors, nurses, and patients at U.C. Medical Center. You gave us two beautiful grandchildren, Kristina and Brian. You looked after your family like a mother hen tending her brood. You were active in church and school activities, and both Girl and Boy Scouts. You provided immense comfort when either one of us were sick or ill.
You are the light of all our lives and your loss has created a tremendous void which can never be filled. We would give anything to have you back, though we know this is just not possible.
We know the Lord will look after you when you are in Heaven.
- Mom and Dad
3/17: I started my day by running to the Starbucks in Midtown Palo Alto this morning before 8 a.m. & looked over the newspaper while waiting for my coffee. Was shocked to see a familiar face from the distant past, Diana, in the paper. I was a classmate of Diana's in nursing school and respected and admired her so much. She was so beautiful, on the inside and the outside--such a genuinely kind & caring person, and so humble despite all of great qualities. Small memory-- We used to take our term papers to this nice professional typist, who was working at home because of a medical condition. Diana was her favorite-- she loved to talk to Diana, because Diana was such a warm person who made a connection with people. I wasn't surprised to see how much Diana achieved in her professional life--I knew she would-- she was one of those talented people who stood out in the class. I am so, so sorry for all of you. What a great loss. You are all in my thoughts.
"When a man's an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I'm torn apart
Just because I'm presumin'
That I could be kind of human
If I only had a heart"
- Tin Man from "If I Only Had A Heart"
in "The Wizard Of OZ'
I only learned about Diana yesterday from the Palo Alto Daily News. Thanks for sharing her life story. She not only did so much during her life but, with her organ donation, didn't allow death to prevent her from continuing to give.
Beyond that, I feel certain from what I read here that she will live in the hearts of many people who received her love and kindness.
MY AUNTIE DIANA
By Emma Raney (her niece, age 9)
My Auntie Diana Smith was a very important, special, and caring person. My dad, her brother), told me how social, cheerful, and organized she was throughout her good 48 years of life. Her passing away has changed me, but still, to me she is like memories of her good cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving time when I came to visit her, like memories of Apple Hill, wonderful Christmas presents, (never forgetting my birthday). Also, she was a nurse, working at U.C. Davis Medical Center saving lives everyday. My dad told me whenever she came home from college, she always hooked up with a friend and after she called them headed over to their house, probably with a gift. The best gift she has ever given me is after she died, wanting to live just like her, and that I will do.
Diana My Love,
Words cannot express my love for you or the sense of loss that I have felt without you. I have lost my best friend, and the love of my life and I am heartbroken and lost without you. No one could ever love me as you did love me and I could never love another as I did you. I miss you so much and I cannot imagine what my life will be like without you. You will never be out of my thoughts and your memory will remain in my heart, always.
I promise you that I will try and take better care of myself and be there for the kids while we are apart. I will do my best to raise our kids the way we had planned and try and remind them and myself of what you would have wanted us to do as we face the challenges of life without you. I will try and live each day as you did, counting them all as a blessing from the Almighty and I will try to instill this in our children, just as you believed.
Please wait for me Diana. I pray that you will be there for me when my time on this earth is finished and that you will be the first person I see when I walk into the light of God. If it is possible to be a guardian angel in heaven then that is what I wish you could become. Watch over us Diana my love and surround us with your love, protect us and nurture us from heaven as you did in life.
I cannot say goodbye to you my love, because that would make it seem that we could never be together again and we both know through our faith in Jesus our Savior that that is not the case. We will be together again, I know not when, but it will be a time of God’s own choosing. I do not fear death, but accept it as an end to this Earthly existence and the beginning of another phase of our relationship, one that will unite us with God the Father for all eternity. And together again, we will be there for our children as they complete God’s work on this Earth, and at that time, we will be re-united as a family. Until that time my love, I remain your loving husband.
Forever Yours in Christ,
Kriss
Even before I met her Diana was a tremendous help to me. In 2002 I experienced an aortic dissection. One of my doctors was Dr. Follette at that time. I had so many concerns, fears, unknowns, and questions. It seemed everytime I called the clinic with one of my fear laden and often tearfilled questions Diana was there to answer the phone or return my message and help me feel better. Her patience and understanding through those times meant more than I can say.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago when I by happenstance found the Cardiac Rehab clinic and to my delight there was Diana Smith. Finally I had a chance to put a face and personality with the voice I'd experienced so many times on phone. I told her what her help and kindness had meant to me at that time and how happy I was to be able to meet her.
I simply want to say to her family how very much I appreciate your sharing Diana with me and with the countless others who she touched as she did me. She will always have a special place in my heart. My deepest, warmest sympathies to you all. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to offer my condolences is person.
Charlene McGhee
Patient and fellow dog lover :-)
Je ne connaissais pas du tout Diana et c'est par hasard que je suis tombé sur le site.
Je ne trouve pas les mots pour vous exprimer toute la peine que je ressens et que je partage avec vous.
La perte d'un être cher est très difficile, mais rien ne se perd, rien ne se crée, tout est changement...
Acceptez tout mon amour du fond du coeur.
Jean-Pierre
I know it's been over a year since you left us, but the pain of your passing is still with me. I still have the blanket you made me that last Christmas, and I use it all the time. I don't know why it struck me so hard tonight, but it did, which happens sometimes. You were always there for my family when we needed you, like when I got sick or whenever my mom needed her best friend. You never forgot a birthday, and you came to all our events. You drove us home from the hospital even. I always thought you and my mom would grow old together, that when Lindsey and Kristina and I got married the two of you would be running all over making sure everything was perfect. I miss our going to the Nutcracker together. I miss so many things and just when I think the pain has lessened it comes back again full force. I'm sorry I haven't come to your grave yet, but I think I'm almost ready to. I love you Auntie Diana.
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