Dianne Marie Madaris Nelson

to Robert and Marjorie Madaris. Dianne attended Church and school at

Holy Redeemer Parish in North Portland. Dianne graduated from St Mary's

Academy in 1972.

For over 30 years Dianne, was the soul mate and best friend to Patrick

Nelson. Dianne and Pat were married for over 25 years and chose to spend as much

time as they could together. After Pat retired in 2005, Dianne decided

she wanted to devote her time doing what was important, which was

spending time with her family and loved ones. Dianne's father passed away in 2009, she is survived by her mother Marjorie Madaris; her husband Patrick

Nelson, her sons Darrell Nelson and Grady Nelson (Suzanne). Dianne

has two granddaughters (Karlee Nelson and Jordan Lemons and a grandson

Eli Nelson). Dianne has a brother Robert R. Madaris (Joan) who lives in

Hawaii and an aunt Marilyn (Bob) Larsen living in California, an aunt

Mildred Weber in Washington state and a uncle Jack (Darlene) Johns in

Gladstone Oregon. Dianne also has many cousins, nephews and nieces throughout

the Western states.

Some of Dianne's greatest happiness came from her friends, family and

loved ones. Dianne always felt a special happiness when she could spend

time with her grandchildren. She loved watching their school and sports

events, shopping with them or teaching crafts. Dianne has a treasured

group of friends that she has known and continued to be good friends

with since grade school and throughout high school. Dianne especially

loved that the group of special friends got together every year for

weekend get away trips and in between the trips, they often met for for

lunches, dinners and birthday celebrations.

Dianne was incredibly talented and creative; she had so many crafts and

interests that she was unable to find enough time to do them even after being

retired. Dianne played the cello and piano, she loved to fish and was

planning on taking up fly fishing this spring. Dianne's love of

photography had her taking her cameras everywhere she went. Dianne

entered her photographs in state and county fairs, winning a number of

awards. She also exhibited some of her local area pictures in the post

office at Depoe Bay, Oregon and when the time to remove them came the

post master asked her to leave the photos up for a several additional

months due to the numerous positive comments. Dianne also loved hiking

and exploring, rock hounding and finding agates, jasper, petrified wood,

and many others. Dianne would then polish her found treasures. She did

scrap booking, knitting, card making, and loved to make personal and

special gifts for friends and loved ones. Dianne was very interested in

researching the Madaris and Nelson family history and genealogy tracing

the families back many generations. She also enjoyed oil painting and

tole painting, home decorating and reading historical novels. Dianne

loved to work in the yard, making large elaborate flower pots and

hanging baskets every year. Dianne was an avid collector of many items

among them salt and pepper shakers, ceramic angels, Christmas pins, old

coffee pots, Christmas ornaments, glass floats, antiques and whatever

else caught her interest.

Dianne worked at Portland Police Bureau for over 26 years before she

left to spend as much time as possible with her loved ones. She worked

in Records Division, Planning and Support, Crime Prevention, The Chief's

Office, Drugs and Vice Division, Southeast Precinct, Northeast Precinct,

Fiscal services. Dianne also had some temporary assignments along the

way, she made many friends while working in the various assignments.

The last year or so found Dianne taking up yet another group of crafts;

cake, cupcake and cookie decorating. Dianne made special cakes for her

friends and loved ones birthdays and special events. She also created

decorated cup cakes and made elaborate cookie bouquets for everyone to enjoy.

Dianne's life was one of giving and enjoying her family, friends and her

love of living. Everyone that knew Dianne feels the loss in our lives.

With our loss of Dianne - Heaven has a beautiful new angel.

In-lieu of flowers, if you wish, you could make a donation to:

Kaiser Hospice Program

2701 NW Vaughn St

Suite #140

Portland, Or 97210

Or

The American Cancer Society

250 Williams Street, NW

Atlanta, GA 30303

Mail donations to:

P.O. Box 22718

Oklahoma City, OK 73123