Dianne (Saunders) Skaperda

Dianne was born in Roxboro, North Carolina on September 13, 1940, to John T. and Gracie Saunders. She was the youngest sibling to Margaret, Louise, J.T, and Madoline. After attending Roxboro High School, she earned scholarships to put herself through East Carolina College (now University) for a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. Dianne was also a founding member of the Chi Omega, Rho Zeta Sorority Chapter at East Carolina College and enjoyed many years with her sisters. With additional scholarships, Dianne continued her studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill for her master’s degree in education.

Dianne married Bernice Wayne Thomas on December 24, 1961 and they were married for 17 years. Dianne and Bernice had one daughter, Tina Marie, on July 15, 1968. Dianne was then married to Edward Skaperda until his passing in October 2014.

Dianne was one of the founding mathematics teachers at Enloe High School in Raleigh North Carolina and then taught at Cary High School in Cary, North Carolina for many years. When Dianne moved to New Jersey with her second husband, she taught honors Calculus and Algebra at West Orange High School in West Orange, New Jersey. She was a tough teacher but a very respected teacher. Her students were “her kids” and she was determined to give them an education in the classroom and in life.

When Dianne retired from teaching and moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina full time, she continued her career in Real Estate, selling second homes or forever homes at Ocean Creek Resort. She loved selling the place she called home to new families wanting to live at the beach.

Dianne loved volunteering and giving back to her community. She began her early years serving as President of the Jaycettes in Cary, North Carolina. She also spent years volunteering at the Grand Strand Hospital in Myrtle Beach every week but had to stop due to Covid. She loved helping with the newborn infants and delivering food to the patients. She also worked in soup kitchens with her friends from the Myrtle Beach United Methodist Church even during Covid when those in need grew larger. She looked forward to every Sunday attending church service and learning with her Sunday School class. Even when her health started to fail, she did everything she could to make it to church every single Sunday. Her biggest passion was serving on the Property Owners Association Board for Tower South at Ocean Creek Resort for many years. She took pride in the hard work this board did for their community, and she gained friends who were like family for life.

Each year Dianne would travel to see the world with her closest teaching friends from West Orange High School in New Jersey. Her adventures in France, Italy, Russia, China, Czech Republic, to name a few, were filled with exciting stories which passed along that love for travel to her daughter today. She would always say, the world is big and there is so much to learn, so take the time to travel to meet new people. She also loved her season tickets to the Paper Mill Playhouse Theater in New Jersey for all the wonderful shows as well as roaming the halls of a new exhibit at one of the museums in New York City.

Dianne was a competitive athlete from her days on the tennis courts at Harmon Cove in Secaucus New Jersey, to the tennis club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In Myrtle Beach, she had a wonderful tennis partner, Carol Dyson, for many years. Their team traveled to compete in the South Carolina State Championship Tournament several times with many wins to celebrate. She also loved playing golf at Beachwood Golf Club in Myrtle Beach and played right up to the days before moving to North Carolina. Dianne enjoyed many fun memories of playing putt-putt in Myrtle Beach with her family and grandsons every time they would visit. She just loved being outside exercising when she could.

Dianne also traveled to many football and baseball games over the years for her grandsons, Blake, and Tyson. She loved to yell and cheer alongside her daughter enjoying every second as her grandsons fought for a win.

Dianne had a strong work ethic, a dedication to helping those in need, and always fighting for what she thought was right. She lived with a glass half full outlook and when times were tough, her motto was, “this too shall pass,” and it always did. At times, it was just Dianne and her daughter, Tina, navigating through life and she always taught the value of being respectful, strong, and to always hold your head high. Many road trips with her daughter, began with her saying, “Here we go, Thelma and Louise on the road again.”

Dianne is survived by her sister, Madoline Woods, daughter, Tina Whitmore, son in-law Barry Whitmore, two beloved grandsons, Blake and Tyson Whitmore, stepson Douglas Skaperda, stepdaughter in-law Catherine Skaperda, and three wonderful step-grandsons, Derek, Dylon, and Dean Skaperda, along with several nieces and nephews. Her “Saunders sista”, Madoline, was her partner in crime since childhood and her best friend for life. Dianne always cherished that close bond with her sister. She loved her family deeply and cherished the time we spent together.

The Celebration of Life for this amazing lady will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM, at the Four Seasons Restaurant at Ocean Creek Resort, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina. Information on how to donate is listed below under "donations".

The family of Dianne Skaperda thanks you for supporting this important organization that can help many families in the future.