Diane Bernadette Svoboda

Diane was born in Long island, New York where she grew up. She was the daughter of Ladislaw Svoboda (deceased) and Anna Svoboda (deceased). Her father was a New York fire fighter. Diane was an only child. Her family had immigrated from Czechoslovakia to escape Communist oppression.

After college graduation in New York, Diane used her tenacious personality to work in politics in Albany, NY for the Democratic Party, which she enjoyed immensely. Diane held various educational positions of responsibility including a position at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. Here she was a Project Associate whose job was to conduct management training seminars for New York State Social Service employees. Diane also taught classes at the College of St. Rose in Albany.

Diane was a manager of a store called Computers’N You. Desktop computers were a very new thing back in 1983, so this was the cutting edge. (They sold Commodore 64’s, Atari, IBM, Apple models and sponsored classes on how to use them).

When Diane moved to Phoenix, she taught at ASU, prior to accepting a position at Mesa Community College where she taught for many years, until her retirement. She taught English 101 and 102 as well as Technical writing. She loved her many students.

Diane was a very diverse and adventuresome woman. She spent time on an Indian Reservation with a significant other and learned reservation living. The New York girl learned to love horses.

Diane loved hiking South Mountain near her home. She loved spending time in Pinetop with her many friends hiking and walking her beloved dogs. Diane met many people on the trails and didn’t know a stranger. She enjoyed working at various pet rescues in Phoenix and Pinetop. She “helped” more than one of her friends adopt a wonderful cat or dog.

Diane is survived by her fur babies, Honey Bunch, Sweetie, Heidi Joy, Cisco, Sunny & Thundersnow. Diane will be missed by her many friends who will miss her beautiful sense of humor. As a lifelong Catholic, Diane’s faith was of utmost importance to her.

Services will be held at Green Acres mortuary and cemetery on April 16, 2021. Visitation from 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM and services from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM. Internment will be in the Hope Garden at Green Acres Cemetery.