(Return to Visalia Friends Meeting Home Page) Diana Araujo Diana with Son Luis MEMORIAL FOR DIANA ELIZABETH ARAUJO Born June 23, 1947...Passed on December 30, 2003, about 7:30pm She was the mother of 4 children -- Diana Elise Araujo, Age 37 of Winchester, Massachusetts Luis John Araujo, age 36 of Three Rivers, California David Rafael Araujo, age 34 of Santa Ana, California Rebecca Angela Araujo, 31 of Santa Ana, California She had 2 grandchildren whom she adored -- Aaron Elya Pivo, age 13 of Winchester, Massachusetts And Psalm Maya Washington, age 9 of Santa Ana, California She is survived by all her children and grandchildren along with her Mother, June Corry Sisk, Age 86 of Santa Ana, California Sister, Janet Rosalee Williams, age 54 of Garden Grove, California, and Brother, James Walter Sisk, age 52 of Lucerne Valley, California Her former spouse, Luis Rosendo Araujo, age 59 of Santa Ana, California was visiting for the holidays and was present with her at the time of her passing, along with her two sons and grandson. Diana grew up in Santa Ana, California where she attended the same grammar school where her mother was a teacher. She enjoyed her grandmother's orange grove farm in Santa Ana with her siblings and cousins Lyn and Larry Larsen. She spent many happy times there as a youth, playing hide and seek in the fields. She attended Santa Ana High School, where she met and married her former husband. A few years later she moved back to her childhood home on Olive Street. She had her children from 1966 to 1972, at which point she went back to college to finish her higher education, while still "working" as a full-time mother of four. After graduating in 1976 from the University of California at Irvine with a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology, she went on to work with Dr. Stanbridge at the university's medical school as a research assistant for 12 years. In 1991, she left the university to take a break from lab work and become her first grandchild's nanny for 4 years before he moved with his mom to Massachusetts. At this time she found her final home in the mountains at the foot of Sequoia National Park, where she worked as a park ranger -- a job she greatly loved. The Sequoias had also been a frequent visiting spot with her family during many previous vacations. Diana loved to go camping and be out with nature! Her children have many fond memories of "bad tent" experiences. Her older son, Luis, moved to Three Rivers in December of 2000 and is eternally grateful for the 3 years with her. Diana will be greatly missed. She was the joy of her children's life. She always had something quick and witty to say. She had a good sense of humor, and if you knew her like we knew her, then you thought she had a beautiful smile and soul. Her passing is sad and bittersweet -- but as her oldest daughter, I know that she is supremely happy -- because although we cannot see her again, she is able to see us always -- and this is all that she ever really wanted. She did not take much from life, but she left a lot for all of us. I will always remember the most important lesson that she taught me: "Use the raft to get across the river, but once safely across to the other side, let it stay there for some one else to use." Diana was a member of the Visalia Friends Meeting and considered herself a "Quaker/Buddhist". She always walked lightly, and rarely carried a big stick. She was a "moonchild", born in a summer month. As a fellow "Cancerian" I can say that I will enjoy the beauty of the moon and its shine -- not the finger that is pointing to it. Love ya Mama -- Elise, Lou, Dave and Beck