Susan Trembath
Diane Hurd was born Dinah Ann Jones, on May 5th, 1928, in Birmingham, England. She was the youngest of the three children of Arthur and Sally Jones (nee Sainsbury), following brother Maurice and sister Barbara. After an education abbreviated by the bombing of her school in WWII, Diane became a dance teacher, where she met her husband, William Gordon Hurd, and married at the age of nineteen.
The couple immigrated to Canada, where they had two children, Susan and Julie, then moved back to England for a short while before deciding to take their big dreams to California. With their two little girls and very small car, they crossed the Atlantic by ocean liner and drove from New York City to their new home in Costa Mesa.
Diane was gentle, quiet but charming, an introvert, a stay-at-home mom and homemaker who enjoyed decorating her home, exercise and nutrition, and fashion on a budget, with the occasional splurge. She had a knack for hair and makeup, but was naturally the loveliest lady in the room.
When in her 40s, Diane summoned the courage to audition for a show choir and, despite her fragile nerves, performed several times, once at Disneyland.
In 1969, the family moved to San Diego. Five years later, after 26 years of an often-difficult marriage, Diane divorced, and, despite health issues and being a non-driver, faced her future bravely, working for many years as a store manager in her son-in-law's business, enabling her to buy a home of her own. She also went back to her very first love, competitive ballroom dancing, winning many trophies and accolades. On retirement, she volunteered at the Hospice of the North Coast Thrift Shop near her home for many years.
Diane loved nothing more than spending time with one of her daughters, and they with her, hunting for art and other treasures at thrift and consignment stores, and having lunch out. She saw at least one of them every week of her life, culminating in living out her final years with her younger daughter, Julie, in Northern California. She treasured that time, as did they.
Diane is survived by her two daughters, Susan (Magee) Trembath and Julie (Julz) Hurd, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
A private memorial celebration will take place close to Christmas, Diane's favorite holiday.
The couple immigrated to Canada, where they had two children, Susan and Julie, then moved back to England for a short while before deciding to take their big dreams to California. With their two little girls and very small car, they crossed the Atlantic by ocean liner and drove from New York City to their new home in Costa Mesa.
Diane was gentle, quiet but charming, an introvert, a stay-at-home mom and homemaker who enjoyed decorating her home, exercise and nutrition, and fashion on a budget, with the occasional splurge. She had a knack for hair and makeup, but was naturally the loveliest lady in the room.
When in her 40s, Diane summoned the courage to audition for a show choir and, despite her fragile nerves, performed several times, once at Disneyland.
In 1969, the family moved to San Diego. Five years later, after 26 years of an often-difficult marriage, Diane divorced, and, despite health issues and being a non-driver, faced her future bravely, working for many years as a store manager in her son-in-law's business, enabling her to buy a home of her own. She also went back to her very first love, competitive ballroom dancing, winning many trophies and accolades. On retirement, she volunteered at the Hospice of the North Coast Thrift Shop near her home for many years.
Diane loved nothing more than spending time with one of her daughters, and they with her, hunting for art and other treasures at thrift and consignment stores, and having lunch out. She saw at least one of them every week of her life, culminating in living out her final years with her younger daughter, Julie, in Northern California. She treasured that time, as did they.
Diane is survived by her two daughters, Susan (Magee) Trembath and Julie (Julz) Hurd, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
A private memorial celebration will take place close to Christmas, Diane's favorite holiday.
