Ms. Dianne Gitlin's Obituary
Dianne Margaret Gitlin (Dede) passed away on Saturday 10th, 2016. She was born December 16th, 1936 in Syracuse, New York. She lived a long, full, and diverse life. She began her adult life in service to the Lord as a Nun. After six years, she petitioned and was granted separation from the convent to start a family. She continued to serve God's purpose caring for the sick and needy as a Registered Nurse for over forty years, specializing in psychiatric nursing for much of it. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and a Master’s Degree in Public Health, as well as multiple certifications. When not working in Psych hospitals, she put herself on the front lines of society, as a social worker and counselor in the city jails, and among the inner cities’ homeless population, risking her safety to tend to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Dede was many things, a friend and a wife; but what she was most proud of was her life as a mother of her four sons and grandmother of five grandchildren. She was a very spiritual woman and a devoted Catholic. She was proud of her Irish heritage and New York upbringing, she was at heart a fighter, everlasting in her principles; never hesitating to help and stick up for the less fortunate and those in need. Her adventurous spirit took her and her family to New York, Montana, Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Washington, and Tennessee; it is without a doubt that this nomadic life was divine and purposeful in nature to allow her to touch the hearts, and change the lives of so many.
Dede was preceded in death by her husband, Elmo Rowell; her parents, Francis and Leona Dillon; her brothers Larry and Billy Dillon; and her life-long friends Dorothy Fryklic, Donna Whitney, and Thelma McBride. She is survived by her children and grandchildren; Paul and Judy Tassie and their sons Devon and Hunter, Michael Tassie, David Tassie and his daughter Martina, and Louis and Vikki Gitlin and their daughters Violet and Aurora. She was also survived by her lifelong friends, Joanne McGeean, Joanie Way, and Carol Fox.
And now a note from Dede’s sons:
Our Mom was a deep thinker, she loved to read books and play rummy, she was very intelligent, highly educated and had strong convictions about things like honor, respect, and integrity. She always tried to instill those values upon us boys.
She was a practical joker and like having water fights. We don't mean that in the conventional sense where two sides agree to have a water fight and both have water balloons or hoses and you’re outside, we could be in the kitchen doing something and she would just sneak attack and throw water for no reason. Then it was game on and then she would pretend to be done and we would dry off and she would do it all over again.
Mom loved animals and used to take in strays without thinking twice - at one point we had 15 cats on our property in Montana because they kept multiplying. It was like a zoo; we had goats, ducks, dogs, rabbits, pigs, chickens and cats - lots of cats.
Mom was restless in the sense that she always wanted to move - the last 10 years it has driven us kids nuts - she just wasn't content wherever she moved to. Too big - too small, too far from church and on and on.
The family would to acknowledge Louis, Vikki and her parents for all their help with mom over the last 3-4 years, I know it's been tough but It hasn't gone unnoticed. Thank you for all you've done.
Mom, you have finally moved to your last resting place. We hope you are at peace with your surroundings and will keep an eye on us as we grow older.
What’s your fondest memory of Dianne?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dianne?
Share a story where Dianne's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dianne you’ll never forget.
How did Dianne make you smile?