DIANE LUCILLE WARE, age 80, was welcomed into heaven on the morning of November 12, 2021, surrounded by her children.

Born to Jerome and Dorothy (Korte) Mathieu, her life's story began in Detroit, Michigan, on February 16, 1941. As a small child she moved to Bear Lake, Michigan where she was a 1959 graduate of Bear Lake High school. On December 31, 1959, Diane married Burton Ware and started a family of her own, building a house filled with love and children.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, yet she helped raise a village. Diane ran a successful daycare from her home for more than 30 years. She was the neighborhood mom and known to many as "Gramma Di". Quite often you would find her surrounded with children at the beach or in the town's library where she fostered the love of reading. Along with her daycare, she spent nearly 40 years with the Cub Scouts in numerous roles.

The heart of the home is the kitchen and Diane made sure hers was full. She was forever finding new recipes and loved baking. One could always hear the clatter of dishes as she poured out her love with cooking and a table full of food. She loved creating arts and crafts with all the children who came through her home. Diane loved decorating for every holiday, and always had a way of making Christmas magical. Anyone entering her home for the holidays was greeted with the sight of beautiful colored lights, multiple happy snowmen, a pile of presents and a large tree that was forever growing heavier with multiple ornaments lovingly collected over the years, and the smell of cookies baking in the oven.

Diane had a great sense of humor and many interests, including reading, music, flowers, and birds, especially cardinals and hummingbirds. She loved spending time with her family, especially during the holidays or camping, staying up late around the campfire and playing games of every kind. She loved watching her children and grandchildren playing sports and was an avid sports fan. She spent countless hours knitting, crocheting, or putting together puzzles while watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. And she enjoyed reading the obituaries!

She was preceded in death by Burton Ware, her husband of 57 years, her son Brian Ware and her brother Thomas Mathieu. Her memory will be cherished and kept alive by her children John (Becky) Ware, Andrea Ware, Craig Ware and Eric (Heidi) Ware; grandchildren Kaasi (Shawn) Hodges, Kayti (Marshal) Shutter, Lanessa and Brynlee Ware; great-grandchildren Emersyn and Evelynn Hodges; her sisters Mary Lou Plamondon and Judy (Jim) Carmichael; and brother Jerry (Madeline) Mathieu; her sister-in-law Helen Mathieu; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. She was a wonderful mom, gramma, sister, listener,
and friend; her spunk and quick wit brightened the day of many and will greatly be missed by all who loved her.

Services will be held Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Oak Grove Funeral Home, in Manistee, Michigan. Visitation to begin at 1:00 pm, with service starting at 3:00 pm, with luncheon to follow. Diane will be laid to rest beside her husband in a private service at Fairview Cemetery, in Bear Lake, Michigan.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.
Please share a memory with the family at www.oakgrovefh.com.. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.