Diane was born July 30,1942, in Flandreau, South Dakota, to Richard and Ruth (Gruber) Bunkers. She died in Long Beach on October 27, 2021, of complications from a stroke. Diane grew up in Colman, South Dakota, graduating from high school in 1960. As a student there, she was a clarinetist in the band, a cheerleader, a member of the chorus, a guard on the girls' basketball team, and a member of the Homecoming Court. Diane continued her education at St. John's School of Nursing in Huron, SD, earning her RN degree in 1963. She worked in a hospital in Minnesota for a year before packing up her car and moving to Long Beach, CA, where she joined her 3 good friends from college, sharing an apartment and going to work at St. Mary's Medical Center. Diane loved the sunny California climate and the abundance of things to do in her spare time. She learned to ski, to garden, and to do just about any outdoor activity California has to offer. While working at St. Mary's, she met Dr. CC Calescibetta, known to all as Dr. Cal. In 1970, she helped him start the first dialysis unit in Long Beach.

Diane and Cal were married on August 6,1976, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Seal Beach. Their son, Christopher, was born in 1977, and daughter, Cara Mia, in 1980. Diane loved being their mom. She was always active in their school's PTA as a room mother and fund raiser. Both Chris and Cara were good athletes, and they kept their mom busy driving them to their many practices and games. One of her most favorite things was watching them play all their sports.

Diane worked at Cal's busy practice for many years before retiring when her grandchildren were born. She and Cal enjoyed traveling, sometimes to his meetings in various countries around the world. Their favorite trip was to Italy and Sicily with his sister, Rose, and his daughter, Gina.

She is survived by her truest treasures, her son, Chris; her daughter, Cara; her son-in-law, Garrett DeGiorgio; and her beloved grandsons, Dylan and Luke. She leaves behind her sister, Charlotte (Jack) Bauer, Elkton, South Dakota; her sister, Virginia (John) Ford, Phoenix, AZ; her brother, John Bunkers, Colman, SD; many well-loved nieces and nephews; her dear stepchildren, Marcus, Carlo, and Gina Calescibetta, and all of her cherished, lifelong friends.

We will all miss her beautiful, smiling face, her kindness to everyone she met, her generosity, her love of a good laugh, her excellent and creative cooking skills, her hospitality to all who came to her door, her gift for jumping in to help us out at just the right time, and her integrity which showed in everything she did. Diane was a woman of faith and a devout Catholic her whole life. We will all sorely miss this beautiful wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. May choirs of angels lead her into paradise.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 am on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Colman, with burial at Colman Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Friday, November 12, 2021 at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Colman.

Diane's family wishes to thank the nurses, doctors, and support staff at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach who so skillfully and diligently took care of her during the eight months of her illness. Your kindness and caring will never be forgotten.