Dianne Edna Harris

Her story begins in Wisconsin on August 22, 1933 as the second oldest in the Dahlke family of three girls and four boys. Her childhood and teenage years were spent in New Lisbon, WI where she developed a deep commitment to family and a love of God’s creation. Dianne’s diverse early talents ranged from band majorette, French horn, year book editor, to homecoming queen. After graduation she lived in Milwaukee, where she met her future husband, Jack at Faith Lutheran Church. They were married in 1956 and moved to San Diego where she and other Navy wives developed a quiet self-reliance that she nurtured in her children and grandchildren. Dianne has lived, loved, and served her Williamsburg Peninsula area community for over 63 years.

Her service to the community and her family took many forms over the years; PTA, school library, Sunday school teacher, choir member at St Stephen Lutheran Church, assistant at the Jamestown-Yorktown foundations, volunteer for FISH, and serving meals for the homeless. Her faith guided and sustained Dianne her entire life. Retirement years meant time for collecting shells with grandchildren, passing on the joy and magic of a green-thumb, baking treats, scrapbooking, hosting game nights, placing red ribbons on the neighborhood mailboxes each Christmas, and as the healing hands that only a wife, mother, and grandma provide. The family recalls that it’s not a party unless it has Wisconsin cheese and pickles. Dianne made and kept lifelong friends from coast-to-coast who will also miss her smile and grace.

Grandchildren, Stephanie Mounaud (Laurent), Tom Harris (Megan), Graham (Katie) and Natalie Lohr (Chris), Jessie Hazelgrove, Jack and Rosie Griffin; great-grandchildren Remy and Henry Mounaud, Lucy, Jane, and Jack Harris will dearly miss the smell of her oatmeal cookies, her gentle touch, scavenger hunts, bird watching, and her hugs. Treasures from her Williamsburg yard proudly grow in family gardens from Boston to Hampton. Her son Ron Harris (Shirley), and daughters Judy Cossitt (Dwight), Nancy Lohr (Randy), and Emily Griffin (Greg) and Dianne’s husband, Jack (more than 65 years) would like to thank Kindred Hospice, Bayada Home Health Care, the amazing 4th Floor nursing staff of Sentara Hospital, and Dr. Pranav Parikh for their dedication and support.

The family suggests that if you knew her in a special capacity, or she touched your life through her service, please give to any of those charities. The Funeral will be at St Stephen Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, Saturday, April 23 at 2:00pm.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com for the Harris family.