Mary Elizabeth Dieffenbacher

1938 - 2022

Dieffenbacher, Mary Elizabeth

"You are our Sunshine, our only Sunshine"

Mary Elizabeth (Warner) Dieffenbacher, of Greensboro, NC, has gained her wings and passed on to be with her Lord and Savior. She passed away peacefully on February 21, 2022. Mary was surrounded by loved ones and entered into Heaven in peace and comfort in her home. She was born on March 16, 1938 in Brooklyn, NY where she attended Hempstead High School in Long Island. She went on to attend Geneseo State Teachers College where she studied to be a teacher and an aspiring artist. She spent the last 40+ years in Greensboro, NC as a devoted teacher, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her devoted, loving and supportive husband of 64 years, David Ira Dieffenbacher, 22-yr. retired USMC from Geneseo, NY; her sister Patricia Sluka of Gulf Breeze, Florida; her 6 children Daniel Dieffenbacher (Jody) of Greensboro, James Dieffenbacher of Brookhaven, PA, Joseph Dieffenbacher (Minna) of Oxford, England, Tina Dieffenbacher-Blowe (Todd) of Greensboro, Mike Dieffenbacher (Fran) of Greensboro and Jeff Dieffenbacher of Greensboro; her 6 grandchildren Michael Dieffenbacher (Rebecca) of Columbia, Missouri, Kristen Dieffenbacher (Jess) Audubon, NJ, Mitchell Dieffenbacher of Claymont, Delaware, Seth Dieffenbacher of Greensboro, NC, Ally Dieffenbacher of Greensboro, NC, John Dieffenbacher of Greensboro, NC, Emma Hendrix of Greensboro, NC and Evan Hendrix of Greensboro, NC, Zac Blowe of Greensboro, NC; her 3 great-grandchildren Carter Dieffenbacher, Colbie Dieffenbacher and Coley Alter. Also many devoted nieces, nephews, loved ones, friends and two very special and supportive caregivers, Elizabeth Baldwin and Stacey Watkins.

She is preceded in life by her mother and father, Raymond and Rose Warner of Hempstead, NY, and brother-in-law Frank Sluka of Gulf Breeze, FL.

Mary was a devoted member of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, NC for 35+ years. She was strong in her faith and passed this on to her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with a beautiful spirit and open heart for everyone she met. She was an avid reader of books, listening to music, making crafts and taking pride in her Irish heritage. She cherished and loved spending time and being immersed in her family, especially surrounded by her grandchildren and being just as playful if not more playful than they. She passed this playful approach to life on to them all. She taught the kids to love and respect everyone. She also truly loved spending time on the dance floor with her favorite dance partner, David. Mary loved her ice cream and spent many days at Ozzie's Ice Cream with her family, young and old. She truly adored the outdoors, all flowers and plants and bathing in Nature. She loved walking in the parks, especially in the spring, where everything was "pretty, pretty, pretty," but her happiest place of all was the beach. She grew up going to Jones Beach in Long Island and developed a love for long walks on the beach, collecting shells and listening to the sounds of the ocean. She passed this love of the beach and nature on to her children.

We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to the staff at Hospice / AuthoraCare of Greensboro.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service till 4 p.m.

She was the brightest beacon of light in so many ways. She will always be Our Sunshine, Our only Sunshine.