I never expected time to take my mom so soon. Somewhere deep in our hearts, we convince ourselves that time does not exist for the people we love most. We blindly assume that eternity holds them, that they are immune to loss, and that we will never have to live without them.

And yet, here we are—remembering the life of one of those held dearest: my mom.

Diane was a force of nature. She carried her heart in her eyes, emerald green and shining like a touch of Mother Nature herself. That same force poured out in her anger, fierce and sudden like a hurricane. But no matter the storm, she always loved.

My mom was relentless in her love for her children. She would have cracked the earth open with her bare hands if it meant pulling every piece of gold from it for us. She never stopped. Even as she aged and her heart began to fail, she loved us with every weakening heartbeat. All that she was, and all that she showed, was her love for her children.

She was blunt, opinionated, and sometimes harsh—but it was through that honesty that I learned most of my lessons. She taught us to be relentless, to be adventurous. She taught us that a life worth living is a life worth giving everything for—for the people you love and the things you believe in.

Most importantly, my mom believed you always had more to give.

Though her passing was later understood to be the result of a long battle with her fragile heart, she never told a soul how sick she truly was. That was Diane. Even in her final moments, she still had more to give—and she gave everything she had.

Even as I sit in pieces, wondering what I could have done differently for her, I remember how my mom wanted me to step into the world and succeed. She never asked for anything from me—her joy came from seeing the lives we were building, and the pride she carried for us was quiet, unwavering, and endless. And through it all, her love was the thread that held everything together, reminding me that no matter what, I was always enough for her.

Wherever life leads me, I’ll carry your love with me, Mom, and spend my days trying to be a little more like you, until my heart stops beating all the same.

Services are being held privately.