Sky Lawn Memorial Cemetary in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, California 94019, United States
Burial location
Obituary
Diane Van Noland was born on June 4th 1932, and was raised in Depression-era San Francisco, a difficult time that taught her the value of hard work, which she practiced throughout her life, ending her career at 68 as an auditor for the Cement Masons Labor Union.
Growing up in the Fillmore District, she rode cable cars for a nickel, wiled away afternoons at Playland on the beach, went shopping at the Emporium, and spent fun-filled days at the magical and long-lost Sutro Baths. She attended Presentation High School.
The nine children she raised in the 1960s and 70s have fond memories of brunch at the Jack Tar Hotel, breakfast at Sambos above the cemetery, and excursions escaping the city to Russian River and Lake Tahoe. A devout Catholic until the end, there are also memories of mandated church every Sunday. No matter the state of the world or her bank account, Diane insisted on a week’s vacation with the family each and every year.
After moving to the Peninsula, she spent her time in San Mateo’s Central Park and wrangling a seemingly never-ending stream of teenaged children coming and going as teenagers do, the source of energy required for such things forever a mystery to her children.
An avid animal lover, Diane’s porch was the local “drive-through” for neighborhood birds and squirrels, and she would spend the morning hours in happy appreciation of their company. A human stationary store, she had a card on hand for every occasion, and was always the first to take the time to write an old-fashioned note of thanks or condolence. Her calendar was crammed with the birthdays she never missed.
There was no space in her house that went unfilled with photos and memories of her children and growing ranks of grandchildren, to all of whom she would covertly sneak candy or gifts from the bottomless dollar-store stash in her trunk.
Diane is survived by seven of her nine children and their spouses—Dan (Lily), Alison (John), Lisa (Jeff), Theresa (Gregg), Paul, Cathy (Chad), and John (Ariel) and she is loved and missed by her 20 grandchildren.