Diane Carmen Catalano Obituary in Fremont at Fremont Chapel Of The Roses

Diane Carmen Catalano

6/24/1947 - 4/4/2017

Obituary For Diane Carmen Catalano

Born on June 24th, 1947 in Alameda, CA, and entered into rest on April 4th, 2017 in Fremont, CA at the age of 69. Survived by her husband of 51 years Randy Catalano of Newark, daughter Karyn Wang (Peter) of Fremont, granddaughter Audrey, and sister Vickie Hoffman (Robert) of Effingham, IL.

Diane loved people. She walked through a store and complete strangers would stop to talk. She listened while they opened up and told their life’s stories. She was an amazing person, compassionate and able to instantly bond with anyone.

Diane also had the misfortune of many health issues throughout her life. Each occurrence in and around health facilities would end in making new friends. She had serious heart surgery in June of 2009 and wasn’t expected to recover. She not only recovered from bypass surgery but bounced back with a vengeance and a determination to pay back those who helped her. She joined Mended Hearts and the Washington Hospital’s Service league as a volunteer in 2010. Again she poured her passion into helping heart patients and families as a certified Mended Hearts visitor. She visited patients at least three times per week and if needed, many weekends and holidays, even on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years. She used to say, “Heart patients need help especially on holidays when hospital staff is at a minimum”.

Many of the patients she visited eventually joined the WHHS Cardiac Rehab program. Diane continued her cardiac rehab participation years past the recommended number of sessions only to use that time to help fellow cardiac rehab patients through the healing process. Of course, she bonded with everyone and to this day is loved by many patients and staff.

She worked as a teller at the Bank of America, again dedicated and passionate about helping people with their banking. Before computers, she helped clients manually balance their checkbooks, rarely using an adding machine. She was so versatile at the bank that they promoted her to a utility teller (roving) position so that she could help other employees and customers. She left after many years to start a family.

Diane was also a dedicated mother, grandmother and loving wife. She was a perfectionist, everything in it’s place, everything on time,”take your shoes off before coming inside”, she’d say. She was never late for anything, paying bills, fixing meals and especially attending functions. She always arrived early, eager to help. She loved cooking for the holidays. She had so many talents, somehow not truly appreciated today. She was a wonderful cook who put meals on the table every night for over 51 years. She was the traditional wife and mother. She mended clothes, decorated, cleaned and dedicated her life to her family. She volunteered at the local grammar school for years just to make sure her daughter got the best possible teachers. Everyone loved Diane at school and she especially loved the children attending. She became friends with many of the teachers and families through the years.

Most importantly, Diane’s love and talents inspired her friends and family to be the best they can be. She will be missed by many.

No services will be held for Diane.

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10/01/2021

Trudie Mathiesen

When I picture Diane, it's in her "candy apple red" Lexus convertible. She had a contagious zest for life. I loved working with her in Mended Hearts. She will be missed! Trudie Mathiesen
10/01/2021

Penny Johnson

Diane Catalano came into my life as a sort of whirling dervish during an exercise class at Washington Hospital. In a short time, I knew a few truths about her. I knew she was gregarious, being friendly with multiple folks in the class. I deduced, too, that Diane was comfortable in her own skin, whereas I was not, having survived a stroke and subsequent cardiac surgery thereafter and not having quite learned about the reformed woman who survived. In the months that followed, I watched people light up when Diane went up to talk to them; I was one of these. Upon hearing her laugh, I know she helped more people than she probably knew. Diane talked at length about Randy, the love of her life, and glowingly about her daughter, and her toddler, at that time, granddaughter. I know the world has lost a person of great worth and that all of us who interacted with Diane Catalano are more blessed for having brushed elbows with her.
10/01/2021

Pam Burnham

Talk about one of a kind - this woman was it all. Friend, devoted wife, mother, grandma, went through so much, complained so little, gave so much. She was extraordinary and will be so genuinely missed.
10/01/2021

graciela panduro

I just found out 4/29/17 that you are not here with us Diane and it broke my heart, God needed an angel, I guarantee that You will be in our hearts! I will miss you so much and I'll miss your beautiful smile. RIP :pray::skin-tone-3:
10/01/2021

Fremont Chapel of the Roses

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10/01/2021

Phyllis Fiscella

I had the pleasure of knowing Diane for several years. She was everyone's friend; she was outgoing, warm, generous, and dependable. She was also an outstanding member of Mended Hearts, regularly visiting heart surgery patients and families, giving them encouragement and support. She will be dearly missed.
10/01/2021

Lani dela Rama

Sorry for Diane's passing. She was great asset to Mended Hearts and she will be missed.
10/01/2021

Linda Frederick

Randy and Diane were backyard neighbors of my late parents, Barbara and Eugene Wiebe. When Daddy passed and Mamma became less mobile, they encouraged putting a gate between their yards, so that they could help Mamma if she needed it. We will be forever grateful to them for that. Mamma and I spent many Fridays visiting with Diane during her back surgery days. Even though she was in pain, she was full of fun and life. Her house was perfection. You could literally eat off of her floors, and she was always beautifully and tastefully groomed. She was compassionate yet tough. She faced many staggering health battles with much courage. Her own struggles lead her to helping others. She could turn a negative into a positive. I don't see Diane "resting" in Heaven. She's probably busy reuniting with loved ones and making new friends up there.

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