Diane Elizabeth Puliafico - Online Gedenkwebseite

Our candle in the wind will burn brightly forever in our memories. I remember Diane's devastation when Princess Di was taken from the world at such an early age. I feel the devastation from losing my Princess Di at such an early age. Diane touched my heart in so many ways - as a loving sister, a loving friend, a playmate, a tennis partner, a dessert appreciator, a travel buddy, a dinner buddy, and the list goes on. Diane touched the lives of many and the world is a better place because of her. Diane had a way of life working for her. I always remember a trip we took to Palm Springs to watch a professional tennis tournament. Diane was driving (Diane loved road trips and loved to drive) and the roads were slick from a light rain. Traffic came to a stop but Diane could not stop in time and slightly rear ended the car in front of us. The driver immediately got out of the car complaining of a bad neck as they exchanged information. Diane expected the woman to file a huge claim against her insurance. Instead the woman mailed her a letter weeks later saying how she had had neck problems for years and ever since the accident the pain had disappeared - she actually thanked Diane for rear ending her. That was Diane's world as we knew it - always helping others whether she was trying to or not. Diane taught me many things throughout my life; here are the most important lessons: Don't settle for less - if you know that something is not up to the standard you want, ask for what you want. Listen to music with friends and really enjoy life. Tell the people around you often how much you love them. Celebrate often, have many parties in your life. I love you DiDi. Thank you for being in my life!

Diane was such a good friend to me and I can't even express how much she did for Amy and our family. When I first met Amy, Diane was her protector and I know she was leary of me dating her best friend, who had been hurt by guys before. Although she may have felt this, she never showed it and was always welcoming, inquisitive and interested to learn about me. She liked my Taoist philosophy and always praised me for my patient and even-handed parenting approach and for making Amy so happy. That is the kind of selfless friend Diane was. If I  was busy with work or one of my hobbies, she would come up to help Amy and be with the kids. She respected our family time, but gave so much love and support to our family, it's with a heavy heart that our lives continue without her in it. I have made a personal promise to her, that I will never let the kids forget what a great friend and champion they had in Diane and that her spirit will always be part of their lives. I have also promised her that I will love and support Amy to the best of my abilities, so that she lives a happy and fullfilled life, because that is what she would want.

From my Taoist point of view: as water and evaporates into air, only to rain down and nourish the earth again, so will Dianes spirit continue to nourish our lives for ever. Witout knowing it, Diane emobied one of the main principles of Taoism, which is:
"Those who know what is enough are truely wealthy. Those who persevere have direction. Those who maintain their position endure. And those who die yet do not perish, live on." Tao Te Ching # 33.

Diane, you will live in my heart forever and I am so grateful for having known you and experienced your love.

I have put in a photo of Makayla, who is her little princess!
Reece

This photo was my last girls outing with Diane at Amy's birthday dinner. I had such a great time that evening and as we all know Diane was in rare form. She expects good food and good service, but that night the service was lacking and you can only guess who made a point of it "Diane." The only thing I can say about that is she's consistent. I didn't have a deep friendship with Diane, but I truly enjoyed her company and energy. This is my last visual memory of her.

My five year old daughter Kennedy wanted to share this memory she had with Diane. It was Diane, Amy, Makayla, Kennedy and myself when we all went to Disneyland last year.  Diane adored Makayla and enjoyed Kennedy because she was Makayla's best friend. I asked my daughter this evening what it was that she is going to miss about Diane and she said "I am going to miss her playing monster with me and Makayla and chasing us around." You were never too young or too old for Diane take notice. I can tell you another little story that always amazed me about Diane. When she came to visit her little friend Makayla she would bring her flowers. I thought who brings a four year old flowers? Diane does that's who. Such a big heart no matter what height you were. Kennedy wanted me to tell you she is going to miss you and the fun times she had. The memories we shared will never be forgotten.

Trish & Kennedy Dewell

Like many of us, I had the privelage of meeting Diane through my very dear and best friend Amy.  Diane soon became a very special friend of mine and my family's as well.  I think I was especially fond and close to Diane because I knew how much she loved and cared for Amy.  It is hard to have your best friend living on a different coast and to not be able to share your life every day.  Instead of being jealous, I always felt very blessed and grateful that Amy had found a very best friend and soul mate in Diane.  Diane was fun loving, witty, creative, athletic, brilliant and very originial.  She became a part of our annual family fourth of July trips to San Diego and could always be counted on for a good restaurant recommendation, movie and of course directions.  We shared many fun and memorable times that will be in my heart forever. Diane's zest for life was infectious and her thirst for knowledge unquenchable.  She will live in my heart forever and I know that she is doing "good works" somewhere now where she rests in peace.  Diane, I will always love Amy and take care of her the way that I know you would have been there and wanted me to.  Di Di will always be special and your spirit of caring, friendship and love will live on with us forever.

When I first told someone of Diane's passing, I said "She was a friend of my friend Amy." Then I knew that that did not sound right. She was definitely "my friend" too. Amy has been a special friend of mine ever since Makayla and Brianna have become inseparable playmates. So through my friendship with Amy, I was blessed to have met Diane. As everyone has said, she always had a way to make you feel special when you had a conversation with her. She was a great listener and truly was interested in whatever you had to say. When I would show up at Amy's, she would give me a big hug and she would be one of the first to offer me a glass of wine because she knew we both shared that passion for good wine. She would always chase Makayla and Brianna around the house and get them laughing and giggling and all fired up.  I was lucky enough to share my birthday "spa day" with Diane this year.  Of course, she brought great red wine to drink while relaxing at the pool and gave me a birthday gift of beautiful wine glasses. My family will miss her very much.  Hopefully, the graceful and carefree way that Diane lived her life will spread to all who loved her and teach us lessons on how to live our lives to the fullest. Cheers to you, Diane!  I love you!

I nearly didnt get to meet Diane. She later shared with me, in her usual straight talking  way, that she thought the pictures she had seen of me were hideous, I was too thin and that my accent was totally phoney. From such an inauspicious beginning things could only get better and they surely did.

While she never let me win at backgammon or take more than 2 games of tennis from her in any one set, we shared some wonderful experiences together in the last year. She enriched my life, as she did those of others, in ways I will never forget. I know that her memory will live on with those who love her.

It was a privilege for me to know her and I cannot express my feelings of sorrow to her family and closest circle of friends

 

 “so far, I don't seem to be a match for anyone – I am unique, a real one of a kind!!".......taken from an email Diane sent me last year when laughingly describing her “match.com” experiences to me.

Yes, Diane you were unique and a one of a kind. All of us who knew and loved you can attest to that.  Of course Diane would put a positive, funny spin on a situation that would leave most of the rest of us miserable. It was one of her many “secrets” of living life to the fullest – everything had a positive, she simply refused to see the downside.... Surely one of the reasons she was so irresistible.

I remember back to our meeting for the first time. We both were in a similar place in our lives – at loose ends looking for some meaningful emloyment when we met at an investment office in San Diego. My first day and one hour was enough to determine it was not for me..... as I was preparing to get my things together, Diane came by my desk and I told her I was leaving. Being Diane, she convinced me to stay “just until lunch” so we could get to know each other. At lunch, she invited me to meet with her for a drink later that week...... as I was on my way home that day I was thinking (with a smile on my face) “who is this girl that has already decided we are to be friends – who offers no choice in the matter?”

Diane turned out to be one of the most incredible people I have ever had the privledge to know and love and share a friendship with.  She had this uncanny knack of "zeroing in" on exactly what a person's best attributes were and then making you feel special for having them!  Her zest for life always left me enthused, amazed, inspired, laughing, shaking my head in wonder, perhaps a little exhausted, but never bored.

I know that everyone who has shared Diane's friendship and love has at least one similar story. How is it possible that one person could be so much to so many friends? How one person could give so much of herself, but never loose sight of who she was? A very special person indeed.

Addio Bellissima – we love you and miss you and will always remember you with a smile in our hearts.