Dianna Perdue

June 22, 1955 – March 20, 2016

Maybe it was Dianna’s free spirit that was developed through her move from her birthplace of Minneapolis, Minnesota to sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Maybe it was her sense of compassion that was cultivated from her role as the second oldest child in her family tree. Daughter of Zelda and Walter Hallgren and sibling to Cindy, Patty, and Dan, Dianna was anything but ordinary. She was truly extraordinary.

It was Dianna’s relocation to Tallahassee, Florida in the early 1980’s to work for State Department of Labor that allowed her to eventually meet her life partner, Kenneth (Kenny) Perdue. Kenny and Dianna married on November 25, 1987. Soon after, Dianna began working with Kenny at Perdue Automotive as office manager and bookkeeper. When not greeting customers with a welcoming smile, she could be seen around town in her little silver truck, visiting the bank and retrieving automotive parts and lunch for the staff. Her vivacious personality and generosity in spirit will be warmly remembered by all of those whose lives she impacted in these ways.

Yet, her passion for living, for truly connecting to others, didn’t end with beings of the two-legged variety. Quite the opposite. It readily poured forth from Dianna onto any four-legged creature that crossed her path. No cat, dog, possum, raccoon, fox, bird or turtle that wandered onto the Perdue property would go hungry if Dianna could help it. She took time every day to supply multiple feeders with seed for the birds, food for the stray cats, and, against the county’s wishes, food for the neighborhood raccoons and foxes -- hotdogs were her specialty, and her ever-growing flock of followers loved her for it. Over the years, she rescued and cared for a multitude of dogs. She loved nothing more than to be outside playing with her animal family, attending to their every desire. She lived for their happiness, and in that happiness Dianna found pure joy. Dianna volunteered at Los Robles Animal Hospital where she spent many happy mornings comforting animals as they recovered from anesthesia. She also volunteered for Goosecreek Wildlife Rescue and would retrieve injured or orphaned animals to be raised or rehabilitated. Her heart was of the purest kind.

Whatever combination of life events and characteristics combined to form Dianna, they will never again be replicated, for she was truly one of a kind. Dianna allowed each new chapter of life mold her into a compassionate, adventurous, and selfless individual who could endear a perfect stranger, human or animal. Dianna was a kind and gentle person, a loyal and devoted friend, and will be remembered for many reasons, particularly her beautiful smile, her warm throaty giggle, and sense of humor. Her zeal for life was unparalleled and something Dianna would want used to emulate in her remembrance.

Dianna is survived by her devoted husband of 30 years, Kenneth C. (Kenny) Perdue, of Tallahassee, her step-daughter, Jennifer Perdue, of Rockford, IL, her sisters, Cindy Ireland (Scott) of Ft. Lauderdale, Patricia Mozitis of Ft. Lauderdale, her brother Dan Hallgren (Betzy) of Lakeville, Minnesota, her nieces Danielle Mozitis, Stephanie Hallgren, Melanie Hallgren, nephew, D.J. Mozitis and her beloved companions Sugar, Pepper and Ratty Cat.

In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donations in Dianna’s memory be made to Goosecreek Wildlife Sanctuary in Tallahassee, The Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, or the Alzheimer’s Resource Center.

A celebration of Dianna’s life is to be held on April 17th at 2:00 in the afternoon at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home 1737 Riggins Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308

Arrangements under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.