Kathryn Matthews Diana

Kathryn was born on July 23rd, 1925, in Amasa, Michigan, the daughter of George and Charlotte (Webber) Matthews. She grew up in Alpha, Michigan, graduating from Alpha High School in 1942 as the class valedictorian. She attended the University of Michigan, graduating with honors from the School of Journalism in 1946.

Kathryn met her future husband, Joseph A. Diana, Jr., at the University of Michigan, and they were married in June of 1946 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ann Arbor. Joseph preceded Kathryn in death in June of 2014, a few days shy of what would have been their 68th wedding anniversary.

After graduation, Kathryn moved back to Alpha, and she and Joseph both taught at the Alpha High School--Kathryn teaching English, and Joseph teaching History. Their first child, a son, was born in Stambaugh in 1949. Shortly afterward they returned to Ann Arbor, where they lived for the next twenty years. During that time, Kathryn gave birth to three more sons.

Later, Kathryn moved with her family to Setauket, New York, and then to Urbana, Illinois, before returning to Ann Arbor in 1986. She remained a resident of Ann Arbor for the rest of her life. Throughout her life, Kathryn maintained her love of reading and writing--particularly poetry, winning several awards for poetry she wrote over the years. She also loved travel, and she traveled extensively throughout Europe. She and Joseph were especially fond of the British Isles.

In addition to her husband, Kathryn was preceded in death by her youngest son, Paul, in 2009, and by her oldest son, Mark, in 2018. She is survived by two other sons: Chris, of Urbana, Illinois, and Todd (Kim) of Taylor, Michigan. She is also survived by several grandchildren (Eric Steckler, Emily Kelley, Matthew Diana, Sarah Kinsler-Holloway, Andrew Diana, and Kayla West) and great-grandchildren (Logan, Alexandra, Sebastian, Stella, Carter, Ryan, Jr., and Scarlett).

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:30am on Friday, August 20th at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ann Arbor. Visitation will be at the Church, prior to the services, beginning at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathryn's name to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor.