Diane Briggs

Have you noticed a beautiful rainbow after a warm summer shower?
Have you ever heard a melody so pretty it gladdened your heart and made you want to sing?
Did you notice the ray of sunshine that shown down on you and warmed you while you worked?
Have you listened to the laughter of water slowly running over the rocks in a stream bed?
All of these things bring joy and happiness to our world as Diane brought joy and happiness to our family and friends.

Hastings resident, Diane M. Briggs, 53, passed away Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, Nebraska.

Diane Marie was born Oct. 24th 1960. She joined two brothers Dale and Wayne completing the family of Paul and Ferne Briggs.

From an early age there was never any doubt Diane was a lover of animals. She loved to go "do chores" with her Dad so
she could play with the baby calves, and he always needed her help. There was a variety of cats around yard and even a dog or two all needing to be loved and named. As an adult she volunteered at Heartland Pet Connection and served on the board there for several years.

Diane played trumpet in the band in both grade and high school. Practice time was over when with a twinkle in her eye she would play Taps or The Old Gray Goose just because she knew her mother did not care for either tune.
Diane graduated from Nebraska Christian High School in 1979. Clerking in the local grocery store wasn't what she wanted out of life so off to Central Community College in Hastings where she learned about computers. Thirty some years later she was still working at a computer and the last 14 years at Paper Works.

In 2011 Diane learned she had Melanoma Cancer and did all she could to defeat that terrible disease. Cancer can take the body but it can't kill friendship, shut out memories, silence courage, or reduce eternal life.

Going on before her were both sets of grandparents Vernon and Elva Briggs, Leonard and Maude Forbes and her Dad Paul. The greatest joys of her life were her fiancée John Hitchcock and his family, her mother Ferne, brothers Dale Briggs and wife Deb, Wayne Briggs and Betty. Nephews Richard Briggs and wife Elicia and Chris Winings. Step sons Trenton and Travis Sadd, friends Sonja and Griffyn along with coworkers from paper works. Three loving aunts and a number of cousins and lots of friends join these special people to provide comfort to each other as we remember this ray of sunshine known as Diane. We love you Di.

Memorial Services will be Saturday, November 9, 2013; 1:30 P.M. at Butler Volland Chapel, Hastings with Jason Matthews officiating. Burial will be Sunday, November 10, 2013; 2:00 P.M. in Rosehill Cemetery, Rose, Nebraska with Pastor Ralph Metscke officiating. Memorials may be given to Heartland Pet Connection or The Rose Community Church. Visitation will be Friday, November 8, 2013; 1:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. with family receiving relatives and friends 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.