Sherrill Pattee wrote this in memory of her sister Diane
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Diane was an alto and sang 'Take Me out to the Ballgame' at our mother's
memorial service.
In high school she was first chair clarinetist in the band.
She danced on American Bandstand in 1957or 8.
She was a member of the National Honor Society even though she almost
flunked chemistry. I remember helping her memorize stuff on 3x5 cards.
She starred in all high school plays and was voted Best Actress in her high
school yearbook.
She was confident, with a loud voice and a strong step in a short body. She was
the shortest of the seven children.
She was accepted at the University of Connecticut in 1959, wanting to be a
lawyer. She dropped out her sophomore year to have James.
Diane was an artist and craftsperson. She made many lovely things. I have
leather bookmarks she made for me. The painting in the laundry room was
Diane's. She painted it from a picture of me when I was two. Another painting of
hers is hanging in Marcia's house. She made jewelry and whimsical characters.
She loved hobbit homes and fairies. She loved fantasy. She was a great reader
of the romance/fantasy genre. A make believe world was her favorite habitat.
She was a great Scrabble player though she could be quite annoying when it
came to words she didn't approve of. Fart was one even if it is a legitimate
Scrabble word. She also wanted to know what a word meant, which has no
value in the game.
Diane loved to do jigsaw puzzles. As she grew older, she had to reduce the
number of pieces per puzzle contained but continued to enjoy the effort
nonetheless.
She married 3 times, all disasters. She was never unkind about the people she
married and at the same time not introspective as to underlying causes of either
choosing wrong or unable to make things work when the choice was made. She
had two great boyfriends in high school, Davy Jones and Sal (oops, forgot last
name).
Diane's life was never easy. Struggle was always there but usually well hidden.
At the end of her life she adopted a forgiving and compassionate attitude
towards others. She, like her mother, rarely had an unkind word for anyone.
She appreciated her children. Again, never a negative concerning them. She
seemed to accept them where they were in this life regardless of their struggles.
Analysis was not her strong point and I say that with a smile. I think she was
lucky in that regard. In our last phone call she talked at length about James and
Agnes. She said how much she appreciated his Sunday calls and his recent
visit. She was so looking forward to a visit from Agnes. She told me she loved
me and would greet me on the other side regardless of my disdain. Again, I'm
smiling. I said, "Not, if I can help it!" We both laughed. She always kept her
sense of humor. She said she was looking forward to seeing William and Riley.
My opinion: Diane sought all her life for the love she never got in her family of
origin. She kept family pictures displayed on her walls as if to create them in an
image that would feed her soul. Where I resent any thought of reuniting with
family members, Diane loved the idea. In a perfect state, with her Heavenly
Father, they'd be the loving beings they weren't in life. She'd finally get the love
the little girl within never got. Diane, I hope it all came true for you.
Godspeed, my dear.
❤
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