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DIANA PHAY McGOWAN

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San Diego State University

DIANA McGOWAN Obituary

McGOWAN, DIANA PHAY 1948 to 2012 Diana Phay McGowan was born November 26, 1948, in Mill Valley, California. She passed away peacefully June 5, 2012, in San Diego, California, at age 63. She was the daughter of Milo Woodward McGowan and the late John Pennington McGowan. She was the oldest of six siblings. Diana graduated from San Diego State University in 1971 with a bachelors degree. In 1974, she started her 36-year career as a speech language pathologist in the Chula Vista Elementary School District. She retired in 2010. She became an avid sailor in the 1970s; her boat of choice was a Hobie Cat catamaran. She loved to travel, and her last foreign adventure was in Africa in 2011. Another of Diana's hobbies was studying her family's genealogy and making family scrapbooks. She and her close friend traveled many times to Salt Lake City to research their ancestors. In 1995, Diana was diagnosed with breast cancer. She endured chemotherapy and other treatments, and the cancer remitted until it intensified again in 2004. She was still fighting the cancer when she passed away eight years later. Diana is survived by her mother, Milo Woodward Mc-Gowan; sisters Martha McGo-wan, Leatha McGowan Cooksy, Barbara McGowan, and Laura McGowan Minto; brother Robert McGowan; and son Damon Lowney. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held June 30, 2012, at Mission Trails Regional Park, located at One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA, 92119, from 5:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, we request that donations be made to the Noreen Fraser Foundation, 12011 San Vicente Boulevard Suite 540, Los Angeles, CA, 90049, (www.noreenfraserfoundation.org); Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Donor Services, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX, 75265, (ww5.komen.org); or San Diego Hospice, 4311 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA, 92103, (www.sdhospice.org). Please make donations in memory of Diana P. McGowan.

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Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Jun. 17, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for DIANA McGOWAN

20 Entries

July 8, 2012

Susan Milow

July 5, 2012

Laura, What a wonderful tribute to your sister. In this day and age when so many families are fragmented, it's refreshing to see so much love come through.

I loved hearing about Diana's life over the years since we were in high school. I'm sure all of you will miss her terribly but know that she is with your Pop and that someday you will all be reunited. My best wishes to the family.
Love,
Susan

Laura McGowan-Minto

July 3, 2012

(From Diana's memorial service)
Many thanks to everybody who came to honor my sister, Diana. Diana is the oldest in our family of six children.
The past year was very difficult for Diana. She took a trip to Africa that upon her return changed so much for her. She didn't allow herself to think that trip was her last trip. Instead, she concentrated on overcoming the cancer that subsequently took over and cut short her life.
Even when the doctors told her she had six to eighteen months to live...Diana wanted to turn six months into seven and eighteen months into nineteen.
One of my earlist memories with Diana was staying home on Saturday nights and making Chef Boyardee pizza. You see, Saturday nights were El Cajon Speedway nights where Pop raced. Since I was too young to go to the races, Diana stayed with me and we made pizza for the family to eat when they got home. I'm sure Diana is responsible for my love of pizza.
And then there was the rubbie. When I was little, I used to suck my thumb. Diana and I would share the silky, satin ribbon on the edge of a blanket...which came to be called rubbbie. I would caress my face with it while sucking my thumb on one end of the blanket, and Diana would rub it between her thumbs on the opposite end. We were quite the sight and I'm sure she was responsible for my sucking my thumb until I was 12...no, I'm just kidding...I was 13.
When I was 16 and could share driving duties, Diana and I would get in the car on a Friday afternoon and bonsai up to San Francisco to visit sister, Barbara. We would be there for a couple of days, and then bonsai home on Sunday. I'm sure Diana is responsible for my lead foot.
It was on those visits that Diana discovered an antique store and began her quest for "old things." And so was to begin a pattern for seeking out "old things."
I learned how to county/western dance with Diana and Martha. I remember Diana not having much rhythm, but she had fun.
A few years back, Diana, Martha, Leatha and I took tap lessons. And Diana's rhythm hadn't improved much over the years, but she had fun.
Diana and I used to hike Cowles Mountain. If you've never hiked Cowles Mountain, you should go. It's the highest summit in San Diego. Once you get to the top, especially on a clear day, it's just beautiful. Diana and I would hike and have wonderful chats along the way. Once we got to the top, we would sit for about twenty minutes, or longer, taking in the 360 degree view. It was tough to head back down. Her love of that view is why we are here today sharing Diana's enjoyment of the mountain.
Here are some particulars about Diana:
She never liked her teeth because when she was little, the dentist shaved them down too much;
She drove a VW Bug in college that she loved and considered buying another when they were re-introduced;
Diana used to sail and owned a Hobie Cat, a double-hulled trampoline sailboat;
Diana loved to snow ski;
She love to travel;
She enjoyed theater;
She liked the music of 70's pop group ABBA;
Diana liked bag pipe music;
She liked vanilla milkshakes;
She collected Rinconada and Hummel figurines;
Her favorite colors were grey, taupe, mauve, silver, and purple;
Diana liked having big, puffy hair, even when it wasn't the style. She wore one of her wigs upside down just so it would puff up more;
Her favorite store was Nordstrom;
She like high-heeled shoes, usually in grey, taupe, mauve, silver or purple. Imagine that.
Diana didn't like to cook or bake and usually shopped at Costco;
She liked watching Hoarders on television;
And...it bothered her more to lose her eyelashes to chemo than to lose her hair.
This past February, we had a birthday party for my husband, John. Everybody showed up and we spent a few hours having fun. Diana stuck around for about another three hours laughing and sharing. I don't think she left until almost midnight. It is those moments that I will forever remember and treasure.
The very last trip Diana took was with our mother, Milo; sisters Martha, Leatha and Barbara; nephews Sean, John, Jamie; niece Cailin, and Diana's son, Damon. We went to San Rafael and visited with family. I'm so glad we took the time and did that.
Diana and I share a love and respect for family heirlooms and treasures.
I'm sure everybody knows of Diana's passion for researching the family roots. It all started back in the 1980's when our mother began doing genealogy. Diana got involved in the late 1990's and it took on a life of its own after that.
Diana always wanted to write a book about the family and it is my wish to honor her by finishing what she started. Its dedication will be to her.
Three days before Diana died; John and I participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. Between the two of us, we raised over $1,000, and our team raised over $9,000. This was a special year for us and each subsequent year will include an honor to Diana.
Diana, family get-togethers will never be the same without you. You are now part of the family history that you so admired.
I love you.

Helga Lewis

June 30, 2012

Dear Damon,
Your mother was a neighbor of mine and I had the opportunity to meet her and get to know her as a friendly, warm and strong person. Her optimism was infectious.
To you and your family my heartfelt condolences.
Helga Lewis

Sherry Money

June 30, 2012

I send my prayers and deepest sympathy to your family. I met Diana in 1074 when we joined the LSH team in Chula Vista. She had a great sense of humor and a strong, courageous spirit. I few years ago she researched my family ancestry. She will be missed.

June 23, 2012

Laura,

I am so sorry for the loss of your sister, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Diana

June 22, 2012

Marilyn Reeve (Loomis)

June 22, 2012

I am so sorry to hear of Diana's passing. We had lost touch over the years but every now & then we'd reconnect and catch up. I recently emailed her a pictures from our senior lunch & just thought she was too busy to reply, not realizing she was battling cancer. I hope it brought her a smile & good memory. My deepest condolences to her son & the family. She was a special person.

Richard Cone

June 22, 2012

I was so sorry to hear that Diana had passed away. As the little kid brother of Martha's friend Sue Cone, I was the little pest that was always around. Diana was always very kind to me, even as I was a little pest, and always in some kind of mischief. My prayers for the whole McGowan clan, and I know that Diana and John are having a funny conversation of some kind - - maybe John is showing her stock car racing in heaven, or sharing his stamp collection with her.

"Ricky" Cone

Susan Milow

June 22, 2012

I am so sad to hear of Diana's passing. My sincerest sympathies to the McGowan family. I knew Diana had cancer, but I thought she had beat it.

Jane Mays

June 19, 2012

Dear Damon,
I knew your mother for years as part of our speech therapists staff in CVESD. I will remember her as a woman of such courage, strength, and optimism. She was so proud of you as her son. As you move forward in your life, your mother's arms will always be around you and her spirit will continue to guide you. God bless you!

Beverley G-Figueroa

June 19, 2012

Martha,
I was so sorry to hear of your sister's passing. It sounds like she fought really hard and went through so much with her battle with cancer.
My thoughts and my prayers to you and your family and to her's also.
May she always Rest In Peace.

Martha Anderson

June 18, 2012

Diana, we were a good team at work, you and I. How did we put up with each other for over 30 years?! You were so courageous as you fought cancer, and now you're at peace. My sympathies to Milo, Damon, Leatha, Martha, Laura, Barbie, and Robert. God bless.

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