DIANE CATHERINE WALDING TAYLOR
1945-2017
passed away peacefully March 15, 2017. Diane was born on the 4th of July, 1945, in New Orleans. Her family moved to Houston in 1949 when her father took a job as the Maître d’ at the new Shamrock Hotel. Diane was a 1963 graduate of Jones High School where she met her loving husband Charles “Chuck” Taylor, whom she was married to for 51 years. After attending college at University of Houston, she moved to Brenham to begin life with her devoted husband. Diane’s love for dance led to the opening of her own dance studio. Following the birth of their first child, Wayne, they moved back to Houston and welcomed their daughter, Staci. In 1975, the family moved to Sugar Land. Diane was a loving mother who was her children’s greatest cheerleader. You could always find her at numerous baseball, football, softball, and ice hockey games, walking the course with her son while he played golf, or sitting at the dance studio watching her daughter dance. Once her children were grown, Diane and Chuck were able to take some amazing trips to see the world. Diane wanted to share her love of travel with others so she became a travel agent. For the past 23 years, she has helped numerous clients travel the world. In 2002, they moved to Sienna Plantation in Missouri City and she opened her own business, Sienna Travel and Cruises. Her happiest days were when she became a grandmother. She was affectionately known as “Nana” and she became their greatest cheerleader as well. Diane enjoyed friendships with many people. Wherever she went, no matter how far away from home, Diane would always encounter one of her many friends. One of her other passions, was supporting animal rescue organizations. In the last few years, she rescued three dogs which became a big part of her life and gave much happiness. In 2007, she successfully beat her first challenge with breast cancer and truly became the definition of a survivor by living life to the fullest, traveling, spending time with her family, and helping anyone in need. From this experience, she began hosting along with her sweet friends, the “Rally for the Cure” golf tournament through the Sienna Women’s Golf Assn to raise funds for breast cancer research. After 8 years of being cancer-free, Diane was diagnosed with another type of breast cancer. As always, she persevered and took on the battle with dignity and grace. Diane was able to go on one last trip with her entire family this summer to Jamaica and they will always cherish the memories. She will be greatly missed by her husband, Charles W. Taylor, son, Wayne Taylor; daughter, Staci Hartfiel and son-in-law Scot; grandchildren, Ashlyn and Ryan Hartfiel, her family from New Orleans, many friends and clients. She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Anna Mae and Spencer Walding, her father Theodore Kosinski, and her husbands’ parents Charles and Frances Taylor. Her family will receive visitors from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Monday, March 20, 2017, Settegast-Kopf in Sugar Land and a Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, March 21 at Settegast-Kopf Sugar Land. Interment will follow. Donations in Diane’s honor can be made to Friends of Missouri City Animal Shelter or Metastatic Breast Cancer Network.