Obituary of Diane Adele Strong

Upon her request, Diane Adele Strong would like announce that she is now and forever residing in Heaven. Diane was a 4th generation Santa Cruzan, born to Cecil and Eleanor Strong. Her life was full of great adventures. Actually too many to list. However some of her favorites included: Getting very dressed up as a small girl and going to San Francisco with her Grandma Del (Adele Strong) and going shopping for pretty clothes. Modeling for the Santa Cruz Women’s Club fashion show. Growing 6 inches in one summer. At 16, driving a 1941 Chevy Coupe, she was possibly the first girl at Santa Cruz High with her own car. Her dad even installed a Bermuda Bell that she loved “dinging” at everyone! When she wanted to go cruising on Pacific Avenue in her Chevy, her mom made her take her younger brother Bobby. She made him lay down in the back seat, so he wouldn’t be seen and then bribed him with ice cream so he wouldn’t tell on her when they got home. Graduated from Santa Cruz High in 1955. In June of 1956 after 3 months of dating, she and Donall A. Brose were married at the brick Presbyterian church on Mission St. One year after marriage, on May 22, 1958 she and Donall attended a Billy Graham Crusade at the San Francisco Cow Palace. It was there that they learned about the saving grace of Jesus and that very day they both believed and suddenly life had meaning. Twin Lakes Baptist Church became a huge part of life for the Brose family. She loved music of almost every kind. She played the piano, sang in choir, played in the bell choir, all at Twin Lakes Baptist Church. After marriage, she spent many years working at Santa Cruz County Bank. She loved to work! She then worked for Santa Cruz Medical Clinic, Santa Cruz Police Dept., and Scotts Valley Medical clinic. For fun, and perks she modeled for a fine clothing shop in Santa Cruz, in trade for the fancy clothing and accessories that she loved! In 1970 she decided to go back to school to work on a career to build a business for herself. She took every anatomy type class offered, and off she went. She set up her own at home business as a medical transcriptionist. Typing 120 wpm, a perfectionist and efficient, her business thrived. She was a word smith. She knew how to spell everything and was quick to correct anyone’s mistake in spelling and pronunciation. Her children called her the Word Police! At 70, she decided that it would be fun to live in the South for a while. She packed up her house with a moving company and proceeded to drive herself across the country to Georgia. Alone! Before cell phones! After a great adventure for a few years, she came back to her home town. She loved Santa Cruz and her great memories. In these later years, she spent hours crafting poems, jewelry and cute sculpted characters with sweet messages to give to anyone she’d meet. She also enjoyed brisk walks and old timey movies, and of course spending time with her family. Over a period of 12 years, 1957 - 1969, she and Don had 5 children. Louanne Korver (Todd), Carrie Brose, Jeffrey Brose (Deidre), Beth Theibaut (Jeff), and Jennifer Brose. Blessed with 7 grandchildren. Kaitie, Lincoln, Shayla, Spencer, Haley, Jackson, and Raylin. Diane is also survived by her brother Bob Strong and beloved cousins. There will be a private family service out on the Monterey Bay. Thank you very much for your love and care for our family at this time. We plan to have a bench crafted in her name to overlook somewhere beautiful in her beloved Santa Cruz, CA.