Helen Dianda's Obituary
Helen Dianda, a proud-to-be homemaker who raised six children and doted on her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, passed away Feb. 25, 2024 at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland after courageously battling several illnesses. She was 97.
Helen was born in Oakland on Sept. 14, 1926 and graduated from Notre Dame High School, She went on to work at the Greyhound station in San Francisco before raising a family.
In 1948, she met her future husband, Ubaldo Dianda, at an airport near Lucca, Italy, where her parents Luigi and Teresa Dianda took her to visit their home town. They married on May 27, 1950 and lived in Oakland their whole lives. Ubaldo passed away on June 23, 2005.
Helen was an exceptional cook and would always urge family members and friends to "mangia," which in Italian means dig in and eat. Even as recent as last month, she made sure no one ever left the house without a full stomach. For her, each new day meant planning and preparing a completely different multiple-course meal than the one served the night before.
Although she was constantly teased for being a compulsive house cleaner, that never stopped Helen from hunting down the tiniest spec of dust in a far corner of the house or scrubbing the floor on hands and knees to wipe out any dirt lurking beneath the surface.
And as faithful as she was in showering gifts on every member of her extended family on birthdays, holidays and special occasions, she always insisted on repaying anyone who dared buy her a food treat or something she needed.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Ubaldo, son Dino and brother Robert. She is survived by her daughters Rina Skinner, Linda Boicelli and Marissa Graef; sons Mario Dianda, George Dianda and David Dianda; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren with another on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rosary and Mass services took place March 7 at Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, followed by burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward.
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