Diane McKenna - Online Memorial Website

There are so many fond memories….

TRAVEL
Many years ago, I met Diane, through a mutual friend, and she hired me to work at Ask Mr Foster in Century City, and we quickly became friends. She kept me sane during the chaos that was being a Travel Agent

SHOPPING
For a short time we were roommates, and both having to be thrifty, we enjoyed shopping at Pic & Save. Diane could do so much with so little, and soon she had the apartment decorated with bargain treasures. Our favorite find being these big bowls we found that were the perfect size for salads. She taught me how to enjoy the simple things.

.RUNNING For a while she encouraged me to run with her (ok, I walked, she jogged) up and down San Vicente Blvd in Santa Monica before work . She always encouraged me without judging me or making me feel bad.

DISASTER
I admired her great attitude after most of her apartment in Santa Monica was in pile on the floor after the big earthquake.  She just picked up the pieces and handled it all with a sense of  grace and humor. She was not going to be defeated by the disaster, I admired her so much for her strength

HORSES
We rode horses at Griffith park and got in trouble when we came back to the barn for bringing the horses back sweaty because we had been letting them canter all through the park. Every time I see a horse running, I smile and think of Di, and always will

Going to the track and watching her excitement as the horses took off…she truly enjoyed being around the horses, and was so in her element in the atmosphere at the track, I think everyone could tell that she really loved being there more than anywhere else.   I am so glad she was able to spend so much time where she really was happy.


JORDAN
Spending time at the beach with Jordan, who Diane would have to carry after his little legs gave out halfway during the walk…or trying to convince Jordan that the mice in the fireplace at the beach house were in fact gone, and that he didn’t need to keep digging through the soot. She was always so patient with him, but who could resist the little guy after all

LOVE
Diane was strong, caring, patient, giving, selfless, funny, creative, supportive,  and was always the constant friend in my life through all my moves, careers, boyfriends, ups and downs…she was always there for me no questions asked, no judgements, just there to listen and support, and maybe gently nudge me out of trouble.

I learned from Diane to enjoy and be thankful for close friends, family, and the little simple things in life….and most of all to tell the people close to you everyday how much they mean to you.

Love You Di

– Jen

I first met Diane in 1985 at a travel agency, Ask Mr Foster, where she hired me to deliver tickets. For 24 years she was one of my best friends. She never gave up on me ... through all the drug years, through all the alcohol years and through all the years of misspellings. She was my rock as well as my spellcheck. We traveled all over the world together, North Korea for shopping (what that girl wouldn't do for a deal!!), Grand Cayman to visit the turtle's, Phoenix via train in a 6 x 3 "cabin" and to Hawaii where I proceeded to get 2nd degree burn after using baby oil and all Diane could say was "What were you thinking???? I wasn't, but she was. She was always thinking for me. Advising me on relationships, money matters and career choices. Whenever I would turn the conversation to her she would turn it right back around again. I often thought it was because she didn't want to take my advise (cant say that I blame her). But I soon realized it was because she cared about her friends and wanted to make sure we were happy. I the last time I spoke to Diane was a week before she left us. She was a little loopy after the chemo and I kept asking how she was ... and she had the nerve to say fine. But that was Diane. As the week went on I went about my daily work and in the back of my mind I thought "I gotta give Diane a call." I didn't ... and I now have a huge hole in my heart where Diane was. Diane my love ... you are gone but because I knew you and loved you I have learned never to let a day go by without letting loved ones know how much we love them. Because of you my friends will know how much they mean to me. Because of you my friends will know how different my life would be with out them. Because of you my friends will know they are loved. Good by dear Diane, I will miss you more then I can express.

In 2006 the August Saratoga meet, Diane worked with my boss, Dallas Stewart as she was at a kind of in between jobs point in her life.  Only reaching that point was because Diane loved the animal and would not settle for anything less then 100% from herself or her employer.

 

One afternoon, we were both off from work and I talked her into going on a wild goose chase to find a stallion whom which I was the groom for several years ago.

His name is Halisee, a beautiful son of Cozzene who I had not seen in years.  I am

like Diane and I love my horses. I miss them when they were not around.

 

So, many gas stations, road maps and three hours of Starbucks, we found the

farm which Halissee lived.  We visited with the owner and took pictures.  After about a 45 minute visit we were on the road back to Saratoga Springs. 

 

When Diane and I got back in the car she looked at me and said, "What you do to find a horse..." 

She should have said, "What she would do for a friend..."

 

We miss you and so love you! I hope where ever she is it is a better place with horses and Jack Russells running beside Diane!