Diane C. Giles

Passed away peacefully on August 20, 2012. Diane was a native Californian, born on December 27, 1932, raised in San Leandro and a graduate of San Leandro High School. She attended art school and worked as a fashion artist for Capwell’s Department Store until she married Bill in 1956. They moved to Concord where they raised their two daughters, were members of the Diablo Bowmen archery club, participated in many dog shows with their Samoyed, Josh, and gave many wonderful dinner parties, as Diane loved to cook. She continued her artistic pursuits with fine art classes, painting in various mediums, and by working in advertising layout for a local newspaper. They took many memorable camping trips with friends and family throughout the western U.S. and Canada. In 1982, they moved to their dream home in Auburn where Diane was able to really express her love of gardening, and with room to have her own artist’s studio adjacent to Bill’s woodworking shop. She joined the Newcomers Club and the Placer Art League, and had a full life as a fine artist and homemaker with a nice circle of friends. She was an accomplished artist in pastel and watercolor, and her work was displayed in many local venues. Retirement brought yet another move, this time to the American Southwest for which Diane felt a great affinity. Her art began to reflect more Southwestern themes, and she and Bill found pleasure in the rural lifestyle on their small ranch in Mancos, Colorado, where they once again built an adjoining studio and woodshop to pursue their creative interests. After Bill’s death in 2007, Diane returned to the Auburn area to be nearer to old friends and family. In addition to the Placer Art League, Diane was a member of the Pastel Society of America and the Pastel Society of the Southwest. She enjoyed the company of many close friends, had a passion for art and nature, loved animals, and was devoted to her family. She taught her girls to value these things as well.

She was the daughter of Admondo and Alice Garibaldi, and leaves her daughters Doreen (Richard) Drake of Auburn and Donna (Rick) Osbaugh of Lakewood, Colorado, and granddaughters Rachael, Kailey, and Nicole. Among her treasured friends are Dick and Charlotte Hall, and Mary Stepp, her childhood friend of over 60 years who, along with her husband Ross, introduced Diane to Bill, her husband of 50 years.

Friends and family are invited to gather at the Bernhard Winery, 291 Auburn-Folsom Road in Auburn on Saturday, September 15th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a memorial celebration of life and retrospective exhibit of Diane’s artwork. Please sign the online guestbook at www.chapelofthehills-auburn.com