Diekman Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Mary Jane Diekman of Flint died on May 15th at the Hospice of East Texas after a long illness. She was 70. Her husband and children were with her when she died. Mrs. Diekman was born in the Bronx, NY on May 31, 1936 to Frank and Isabel Stewart Mahoney. The family lived in Queens, NY for some time, and later moved to River Edge, New Jersey. Mrs. Diekman graduated from Hackensack High School and Trenton State Teacher's College (now College of New Jersey). She became an elementary school teacher. She taught in Teaneck, NJ, Los Angeles, CA, and Okinawa. After returning to New Jersey she taught in Saddle River. She married Richard Diekman, of Ridgewood, NJ on February 17, 1962. After moving to Ridgewood, Mrs. Diekman began her graduate studies at Columbia University. She earned her Masters Degree in Remedial Reading from Teacher's College. The family moved to Littleton, Colorado in 1973. Mrs. Diekman taught elementary school in Castle Rock, Colorado for several years. After moving briefly to Portland, Oregon, the family settled in the Los Angeles area. She taught for five years at St. Margaret Mary parochial school in Lomita, CA. The Diekman family relocated to the Dallas, TX area in 1990. Mrs. Diekman taught for ten years at Northlake College in Irving, TX, where she was an adjunct professor for ESL courses. She retired in 2003. While living in The Dallas Area, Mrs. Diekman served a term as president of the Carrollton/Farmers Branch chapter of the American Association of University Women. The Diekmans moved to Flint, TX in 2004. Mrs. Diekman was active in community affairs and served as president of the Friends of the Bullard, TX Community Library. Mrs. Diekman is survived by her husband, son Richard Jr. of Euless, TX and daughter Elizabeth of Nashville, TN. Other survivors include her sister, Frances Gaylord and brother in law Thomas Gaylord, niece Leslie Sullivan and husband John, all of Vermont, and nephew Christopher Gaylord and wife Sarah of Wenham, Massachusetts, and several nieces and nephews. There will be a Mass of Resurrection at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Flint Friday, May 18th at 6:30 PM with Father Kelly officiating under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mrs. Diekman's remains were cremated and her ashes distributed in the places she loved most. In lieu of flowers, please make gifts or memorials to the American Cancer Society. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com. "Everyone who ever knew her loved her. She made the world a better place."