Diane Marie Battersby

Diane Battersby, 76, of Alta Loma, California, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on February 16, 2024, after a lengthy battle with chronic illnesses.

She is survived and sorely missed by her loving husband, Kenneth Battersby; their two daughters, Valerie (Sean) Wilde and Kimberly (Marcos) Segura; their 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; her brother, Bill Armstrong; and countless other family and dear friends. She is predeceased by her mother, Florence Clark and her father, John Armstrong.

Diane was born in Albany, New York on February 20, 1947, but soon found herself in Southern California where they moved to be closer to their extended family. She kept busy helping with the family's various small businesses, which was likely the inspiration for her pursuing her cosmetology license and opening her own successful beauty salon after graduating from Upland High School. She married Ken, the love of her life, on June 10, 1972, at the Church of the Bells in Ontario, California. Between 1973 and 1976, they welcomed their two beautiful daughters and then settled in Alta Loma, California.

She was a devoted and cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She had an infectious smile and a contagious laugh. She is known for not being able to get through a story or joke without laughing, often to the point where you weren't even sure what she was talking about anymore because you were just laughing along with her. She and Ken shared a rich life raising their daughters, pursuing their dreams, enjoying the arts, and traveling the world with each other and their closest group of friends. They absolutely loved cruises and went on more than 50 together. Her favorite place to go was around the horn in South America. A woman of class, she loved red roses, pearls, bright lipstick, and anything that sparkled. She was a wonderful cook, baker, hairstylist, and seamstress. There really wasn't anything she couldn't do. She had an incredibly kind, generous, and welcoming heart and opened her home to anyone who needed it. She created the kind of life and home you find yourself longing for; cookies always in the cookie jar, the salad to balance the pizza on Friday nights, yarn strewn on her lap as she constantly created something for someone, fresh flowers from the garden adorning in her kitchen, laughs, and games, and the steady consistency that fills you with peace and the courage to face anything. She never missed an opportunity to compliment, lift, love, and serve. She was stubborn and strong-willed, witty and charming, the life of any party, and the heartbeat of her family. Everyone she encountered is better for knowing her. It truly was the privilege of a lifetime to be loved by such a woman.

A celebration of her beautiful life will be held for family and friends on March 7th at the Riverside Memorial Cemetery.