Diane “Dee Dee” Hazen Lovelace, 78, passed away peacefully Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Hidden Harbors Assisted Living and Memory Care Center in St. Clair Shores, MI, where she spent the last several months of her life. She was the beloved wife of Donald Schmaltz for 33 joyful years.
Diane was born September 5, 1946, in Detroit, MI, and was daughter to the late Robert A. Sr. and Dorothy (Shaw) Hackathorn. A longtime resident of Grosse Pointe Shores, she attended local schools and graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in the Class of 1964. She later studied at Stephens College in Columbia, MO.
In addition to leading a loving and successful household, Diane spent a number of years working in the Grosse Pointe Public School System in various aide positions, where she was able to apply her joy of engaging with young people in the schools where she worked.
Diane, a talented artist and lover of dachshunds, cherished her time outdoors, especially during the warm summer months. She often found joy in visiting the community parks of Grosse Pointe or basking in the sun along the Great Lakes. To extend those delightful summer days, she and Don spent several months each year at their winter home in Beaufort, SC. For Diane, sunny skies, a warm breeze, and the shimmering waters of a lake or ocean (and maybe a margarita) were the perfect ingredients for a wonderful day.
Diane had a wonderful sense of humor, and she loved to share that humor with her family and friends, which were a vital part of her life. Diane enjoyed hosting gatherings with loved ones, sharing laughter and cherished stories. She enjoyed the scenic views of Lake St. Clair from her deck, often accompanied by her favorite neighbors or dining out with friends at her favorite local restaurants. Her joyful humor was always present and made those around her smile, even in her last days as her health failed, but her smile and sense of humor persisted.
In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her children, Frederick (JR) Lovelace and his partner Shannon Duffany, of Cheshire, CT, Cameron Lovelace and his wife Marlis, of Southington, CT; stepsons Jon Schmaltz and his wife Sara, of Marysville, MI, Donald Schmaltz and his wife Laura Davis, of Chicago, IL; her ten grandchildren, Jack, William, Vivienne, Rachel, Rebekah Shean, Abigail, Alexandria, Samantha, Jason, and Julianna Schmaltz; nieces Anne Hackathorn, Courtney Smith, and Kelly Newsome. She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Jr. and sister in-law Letecha.
A memorial visitation for Diane will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Kaul Funeral Home, 28433 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48081, followed by a memorial service at 4:00 PM.
