Obituary of Dianna Jean May
Dianna May, 76, of Placida, FL passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, July 31, 2023. She was born in Rochester, NY on September 22, 1946 and spent her early years in Chicago, IL, graduating from Austin High School in 1964. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Dianna began her career at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles, IL where she worked until retirement serving as Supervisor of Intake Services. This is where she met her husband, Robert May; they married on September 11, 1982 and lived for many years in Yorkville, IL.
Dianna and Bob spent many happy years together attending baseball games. They also enjoyed bowling, golf, and travel. They especially relished seeing the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. After their retirement, they traveled abroad with family and close-knit friends from work until Bob’s ALS diagnosis prevented him from doing so. After he passed in 2013, Dianna was supported by her family, as well as many college and work friends, but eventually she chose to live near her family in Florida. When her health prevented travel, she enjoyed virtual travel experiences and kept up to date on all her many nieces, nephews, great nieces' and great nephews' activities. She was an extraordinary aunt who always remembered birthdays and special occasions.
Dianna is survived by her sisters, Carol (Bob) Fitzsimmons and Cheryl Techen, and brother Don (Lori) Techen; brothers/sisters in law, Jeff (Sharon) May and Jane (Robert) Thorsen; nieces, Karen (John) Grace, Joyce (John) Hutter, Heather (Josh) Gruettner, and Taylor May. Nephews include Rob (Candace) Fitzsimmons, Don (Julie) Techen, Shawn (Diana) Techen, and Bill Stapleton. Grand nephews include Ben and Colin Grace, Jake Fitzsimmons, Samuel and Jacob Hutter, Zachery, Kellen and Quinn Techen, Nicholas Techen, as well as grand nieces Olivia Grace, Eisabel Techen and Brooklyn Gruettner.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Jean Techen; husband, Robert May; mother/father in law, Ruth and Robert May; nephew, Kurt Thorsen and her beloved Golden Retriever fur baby, Abigail. We will all keenly miss Dianna’s love, support, kindness of spirit and beautiful soul.
Memorial donations can be made to Suncoast Humane Society at 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood, FL 34224 or https://humane.org/. Arrangements are being handled by Englewood Community Funeral Home at https://englewoodfh.com.
