Diane R. Johnston

Beloved wife of Mark Johnston; dear daughter of the late Thaddus and Alice (Wujek) Ambrose; survived by many loving cousins, Godchildren, and dear friends. Family will be present on Friday, from 3-5 and 6-8 PM at the PERNA, DENGLER, ROBERTS FUNERAL HOME, 1671 Maple Road. Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated from St. Aloysius Gonzaga R.C. Church, 157 Cleveland Dr. NY, Cheektowaga, Saturday at 9:30 AM. Private entombment will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Diane’s name may be made to The St. Jude Center, 760 Ellicott St., Buffalo, NY. Condolences may be offered online at www.denglerrobertspernafuneral.com

Diane Johnston (Ambrose) grew up as an only child who loved her parents. Eventually, she met the love of her life, Mark Johnston, and they were happily married for 37 years.

Family, and its traditions, meant a great deal to her. She enjoyed entertaining, was a wonderful cook, she made the best stuffed mushrooms of any I’ve ever had. If she was making a batch for a social gathering that I was attending, I would stand in close proximity to the buffet table, like a bird, waiting for them to arrive. Diane was a creative, artistic person. She made beautiful, decorative wreaths that she often gave to others. Her baskets for the annual St. Jude Center Basket Raffle were works of art.

Diane was a people person; she was known to be a kind, respectful, patient person who wisely invested her time in and with others including the children that she and Mark chose to be a special part of their lives.

Diane’s nursing career was very important to her. She worked at Buffalo General Hospital for 22 years. This was followed by nursing at select locations of the McGuire Group of Nursing Homes. Sadly, following surgery in the mid-nineties, Diane had to retire from nursing.

If you look up the word Eulogy in the dictionary, it is defined as a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly, typically someone who has just passed away.

Ever since her serious surgery in the mid-nineties, Diane has encountered and endured many medical challenges: one after another, after another, after another. She would successfully overcome one challenge and then she would find herself having to deal with another serious medical condition. It was amazing how this long series of illnesses never defeated her. She always had hope that she would get better which would enable Mark and her to move on. After enduring more than a quarter of a century of serious medical challenges, the observer was forced to acknowledge that poor Diane couldn’t “catch a break” so to speak when it came to her health. No matter what the illness, she always remained positive and you never saw self-pity. Her nursing career prepared her well to deal with doctors and medical staff members. Her courageous message to them was always to FIX IT! Her directive didn’t need to be delivered with anger or vulgarity. Just FIX IT! While dealing with her own illnesses, she always kept in contact with others who were sick to see how they were doing.

On April 25th, a very serious breathing problem developed and Diane ended up in the hospital. She probably thought that this would be another challenge for her to get past and move on. During this 30-day ordeal, it became evident that this time things were going to be different. Mark was always at her side to support and help however he could. Many people came during the 30 days to see her and this gave them the opportunity to say goodbye, a “living wake” so to speak. In spite of her pain and discomfort, her temperament was amazing. Her facial expressions, board and marker allowed her to communicate with each visitor, even joke around. How could she be this way realizing what she was facing? What an inspiration.

During her last 30 days, Mark would text a large number of family and friends, almost daily, as to Diane’s status. In the texts, he often referred to her as his Lady. Think for a minute, Mark had his own Lady Di who so many people loved like the former Lady Di.

Roman Catholics believe that following death and before entering heaven, the soul has to go through a cleansing (to make up for life’s mistakes) before entering the pearly gates. Diane’s more than a quarter century of pain and suffering takes care of that requirement. And if I'm off by a little, she can take care of the rest by handing St. Peter a batch of those stuffed mushrooms.