Dianne Marie Buckley

She was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but lived and traveled all over the world in her adulthood. Her passion for adventure and history led her to obtain her pilot’s license in the early 90s, to the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Chichen Itza, sent her cave diving in Belize, and ziplining through Jamaica. She worked as an accountant for Rose State College in their Auxiliary Services department for a majority of her career. In 2006, Dianne received a liver transplant at the Integris Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute as a result of a lifelong struggle with lupus. She was a proud and vocal transplant patient and an advocate for more accessible lupus testing. Later in her life, she found a community full of deep-rooted friendships in the Oklahoma Iris Society, where she got to share her passion and fervor for growing her favorite flower. If you were to ask her, her favorite lifetime adventure was living a full life with her only son, John, and later her two grandchildren. She loved being surrounded by her family and friends and her favorite way to show her love for them was through baking. Whether it was a fresh plate of cookies, a pie made with pears fresh from her pear tree, or her legendary almond roca she made every Christmas, you could taste her love in every bite.

Dianne is survived by her son, John Arvay; her grandchildren, Lauren Arvay and Jeff Arvay; her great-granddaughter, Evelynn Arvay; her sisters, Irene Buckley Anton and Beth Buckley Dobek; her brothers, Charles Buckley Jr., John Buckley, and Lawrence Buckley; and many other nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

Dianne was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Buckley and Irene Aubin Buckley; her sister, Joyce Buckley LaBelle; and her brother, Richard Buckley.

A Celebration of Life party will be held for Dianne on Friday, February 21 at 11 a.m. at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home at Sunny Lane Cemetery, 4000 SE 29th Street in Del City, OK. Please do not wear black! She insisted that everyone should wear color and dress how they feel comfortable.

While flowers are appreciated, please consider donating to Lupus Foundation of America in her honor.