Diana Louise Radulovich

She grew up in Struthers, Ohio, a suburb of Youngstown. Her father worked in a steel mill until he died at 47, when Diane was four. Her mother struggled to raise three children on her limited income: Diane, Joe, and her fraternal twin David. She graduated from Struthers High school in 1970 and then enrolled in Youngstown State University where she earned a B.S. degree in elementary education with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities.

Upon graduation, she moved to Naples, Florida where she worked as an elementary teacher and teacher of students with learning disabilities. She worked at the school for approximately one year until she met her future husband, William. The couple were married in 1978 in Naples, Florida. They then moved to Tallahassee, Florida, so her husband could complete his master’s degree while Diane taught at a local elementary school. In 1979, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where they stayed for two years. Diane worked at an elementary school in Louisville. From there, the couple moved to Ft. Pierce, Florida for two years until William accepted a job as a professor of mathematics at Florida State College at Jacksonville in 1984 until his retirement in 2014.

Their first child, Jessica, was born in 1983. Diane stayed at home, raised Jessica, and managed the household. In 2019, Jessica died from complications of breast cancer, which was a devastating blow to both William and Diane, but especially to Diane. Jessica was precious in Diane’s eyes. The couple wished that Jessica receive a good education, so she attended a private high school. Jessica took piano lessons and was a concert pianist who took part in competitions. During her lifetime, Diane showed compassion and love for people, calling them on the phone when they were sick or talking to friends about education. She loved her grandchildren and always made sure to send them cards and gifts on special occasions. She was a devoted wife to William for 47 years until her death.

Once, while she and William were in the same hospital, she told her nurse “I want to see my husband,” which she did. When her husband had an extensive illness, she stayed by his side never contemplating divorce. Of course, there were times when the couple argued and had differing views, but their love overrode their disagreement. Once, she talked about not being able to breathe. William said is it not logical if you are talking then you are breathing? Her response “I don’t want to talk about that logic crap.” Diane regularly communicated with her wide network of friends through telephone calls. She loved shopping for exclusive deals and always wanted to save money. Diane had two grandsons, Dalton and Coen. She and William assisted their daughter and son-in-law, Eric, by caring for their boys. They collected them from school, escorted them to McDonald’s, and took pleasure in visiting parks with them. When they moved to Cincinnati, it was difficult for both of us. We felt that we not only lost our daughter Jessica, but in a sense, we “lost” our grandchildren.

In 2013, Diane received open heart surgery. Surgery patients typically have a 10-year post-operative survival rate. Diane lived for 12 years after her surgery. She displayed remarkable resilience and perseverance. She faced multiple health concerns over the past two years that affected her physical condition. Diabetes led to a weak heart which led to breathing problems and acute kidney failure.

Diane was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Goldie. She is survived by her husband, two brothers, cousins, and son-in-law Eric Holmes.

A memorial service celebrating Diana’s life will take place on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 11:00 am at Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, located at 127 Blanding Blvd. Orange Park, FL 32073. Visitation is from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Pastor Troy Ray to officiate.