Diana Mary (Blackburn) Moriarty

Born in Darlington, County Durham, England on 15 July 1935, Diana was the only child of Major John Henry Joshua Blackburn, M. C., and his wife, Angela Jessamine Hunter Rodwell. Raised at “Brockwell,” Pease Pottage, Sussex, she attended St. Mary’s School in Wantage, Berkshire, and later the School of Domestic Science at Cuckfield Park in Sussex.

She was Presented at Court at Buckingham Palace in May 1953 and, from 1953 to 1959, was on staff at the War Office in London. Bravely setting out to California in 1960, Diana (‘Dines’ to her cousins) was married to Barry Max Sullock at Rotherfield-Peppard, Oxfordshire before they settled together in North Hollywood, where they had two children, Wendy, and Joanna.

Diana was strong, funny, caring, intelligent and generous, hosting family and friends from abroad to sunny California. Always up for an adventure, she was a tea loving, cross-stitching, crossword solving, flower arranging enthusiast and devout royalist. A dedicated church member, she was parish secretary, VBS volunteer, choir member, bell ringer and bible study member. Preceded in death by her second husband, Lieutenant Colonel Donald Peter Moriarty (US Army, retired), they enjoyed traveling, often taking ‘Flat Stanley’ to help their grandchildren, and resided in Hinton-in-the-Hedges, Northamptonshire, and Woodworth, Louisiana in retirement before moving back home to Villa Park, California in 2009.

Quite opinionated at times, and a stickler for good manners, Diana loved all her dogs, elevensies, a good book, afternoon naps and tea with two chocolate digestive biscuits. She was a loving mother, always putting the needs of others ahead of her own with a magnificent heart for her extended family.

She is survived by her daughters Wendy Rogers and Joanna Fay, son-n-laws Scott Rogers and David Fay, and grandchildren, Nolan (Miranda) and Meg Rogers; her stepdaughter Erin Moriarty and grandson Donald Moriarty.

Diana died peacefully in her sleep on April 14, 2022. A memorial service and tea reception will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 4pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church Orange, with interment the next morning at Fairhaven Memorial Park.