Dian Joyce Staruska Wise passed away at the age of 64 on July 1, 2017 after a long battle with breast cancer.
Dian was born on April 24, 1953 in Hempstead, Texas to Henry Joe “Sonny” Staruska and Marilyn Cater Staruska. She grew up in Waller, Texas where she enjoyed horseback riding and developed a love of plants, gardening, and livestock from her parents and by spending time with her grandmother Aroma Jenkins Cater.
Dian was active in Waller High School playing volleyball and basketball and in the Future Homemakers of America, where she served as President. In college at Texas Tech University, she excelled in her education before marrying Kenneth Wayne Wise and starting a family.
In later years, she returned to finish her degree and even received her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She practiced as an Occupational Therapist for many years in 3 states and in many different capacities. She loved working with and encouraging her patients by sharing her faith in Christ.
Dian’s best role was as mother and grandmother. Her grandchildren called her “Mima” after her first grand christened her this special name. Reading was extremely important to her and she enjoyed nothing better than curling up with her children and grandchildren to read together. She loved spending time and spoiling them with treasures. Dian enjoyed many outdoors activities with her family, such as camping, horseback riding, snow skiing, swimming, and traveling. She especially delighted in New Mexico and Colorado and enjoyed sharing these delights with her children and grandchildren.
When diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, she remained dedicated to her work and in her will to fight her illness. She went through many chemotherapy and radiation treatments without missing a day of work. Her cancer returned in the spring of 2016 in her abdomen and she remained resolute to fight for more days with her loved ones. She continued on as a brave, iron-willed woman, even throughout her final months.
She was preceded in death by her father Henry Joe “Sonny” Staruska.
Dian is survived by her mother, Marilyn Cater Staruska; two children, Jason Wise and Heather Matlock and husband Tony; and her beloved grandchildren, Alex Wise, Mackenzie Wise, Connor McLain, and Jude Matlock; as well as her sisters, Kathy Staruska and Mary Beth Pipkin.
A memorial service is planned for 1 pm on Saturday, July 8th at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 430 Jackson Street, Alexandria, LA 71301. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 7th from 5 to 8 pm at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Dian requested to be cremated and will be interred at the family plot in Field Store Cemetery, Waller, Texas. A private family graveside ceremony will be held at a later date. The family would especially like to thank our loving Emmanuel Baptist Church family and community friends for the love and support over the past few months.