Diann left us at the age of 80 on April 22, 2 days after her 62d wedding anniversary. Predeceased by her father and mother, Charlie and Jean Petersen.
Survived by her husband Thomas (Tom), her daughters Vikki Meek and Alana (Meek) Roberts, 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Diann was passionate about three things in her life: her family, travel and drum corps. In addition to her daughters, she was very close to her grandchildren Joe Mitchell, Ashlyn (Meek) Mickley and Will Roberts and tried to spoil them as only a loving grandmother could.
She loved to travel, and this love led her to become a Certified Travel Consultant, helping both leisure and corporate clients with both domestic and international travel. That career lasted over 35 years with several agencies as the local travel scene condensed. As both a leisure and corporate traveler herself, she was able to empathize with and support the unique needs of both groups of travelers. The Deprez Group of Travel Companies was her most recent employer right up to the day she went into the hospital.
Her love of drum corps began with her father's playing with the Barnard Fire Department's Barnard Blue Devils. Later she marched in the color guard of the Barnard Fire Department Band. After that, she spent 36 years with the Rochester Crusaders Drum Corps, starting with the Ladies' Auxiliary for the all-male group, then marching in the Color Guard and playing in the front ensemble once the Corps became coed. She then spent 7 years with the Syracuse Brigadiers to be able to share the experience with grandson Joe. With the Brigs, she began in the Booster Club, then went on to maintaining uniforms, and then became Business Manager until the Corps dissolved.
At her request, there will be no calling hours but rather a celebration of life at a time and place to be announced.