Diane Marie Dally

Diane Marie Dally, 78, of Denver, CO entered eternal life on December 9, 2023. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30am MST Friday, March 15 at Risen Christ Catholic Parish, 3060 S Monaco Parkway, Denver, and will be live-streamed at www.risenchristchurch.org. Reception to follow in the Risen Christ Parish Hall.

Born May 12, 1945 in Dubuque, Iowa to parents Herman and Alverda Feldman. She was a delightful addition to her family, joining older brothers Glen and Vern. She beat the odds at age 2 when doctors found and removed a Wilms tumor and she lived the rest of her life with only one kidney. She was an avid 4-H girl; winning the blue ribbon for her famous banana bread recipe that her grandchildren enjoy to this day. She was the President of the County 4-H club. She traveled extensively with her parents to United Commercial Travelers events, and she was thrilled to have visited all but one state (Alaska) in the country.  

Diane attended grade school at St. John the Baptist in Peosta, Iowa. She graduated from Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque, Iowa in 1963 where she made the varsity cheerleading squad. She loved cheer which is fitting because she carried her cheerleading attitude throughout her entire life as she championed her family and many friends. High school was full of pure joy for Diane with Friday night sock hops, continued leadership in 4-H, and basement “Roaring 20’s” parties with her family. 

After graduation Diane moved to the Quad Cities for Business school. She worked for Flexsteel for a few years with some dear friends and made many hilarious and lasting memories, often involving long lunches and happy hours. She married Richard Dally of Dubuque in 1969 and moved to Denver a few years later where she made another lifelong friend working for Diner’s Club. One of her greatest gifts was her talent for making and keeping friends.

Diane loved living in Denver. She became a mother in 1976, earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado Women’s College in 1981 and her next professional move would introduce her to a family she would work for and alongside for the rest of her life (as accountant, HR manager, social director, and official pastry chef). She absolutely loved working for the Scott Family. In 1983 she accepted a position working for the grandfather, William C. Scott II (Gramps) and in 2023, days before her passing, she lovingly spent her last day in the office, at her professional home Innovative Brick Systems, surrounded by Gramps’ grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It was also while working for the Scotts that Diane would meet her long-time love, Jack. Their “little ditty” was a sweet story indeed.

Diane’s other professional love and side gig was catering. She joined Epicurean Catering in 1997 to work the International Golf Tournament in Castle Pines. She was originally only going to work the 5-day tournament. However, she enjoyed it so much that she worked with Epicurean part-time for the next 26 years. She also reigned for a time as Queen of the Plum Room at the Oxford Hotel where she met another best friend for life. She loved the parties, she loved the people – her catering community – and her true undying love was working as a suite attendant for the Denver Broncos games for over 15 years. In her last few years, after sustaining an injury to her shoulder and undergoing treatments for breast cancer, she still toyed with the idea of working another Bronco season. 

Diane truly lived. She was purposeful and thoughtful, generous and warm. She loved life and had an unwavering positive spirit. You were lucky to simply know her because she would make you feel like you were one in a million. She never missed a birthday, or an occasion for a card or a telephone call, she was passionate about baking and making sweets for all of her family and friends, neighbors and co-workers. She also loved the arts and theater and was a season ticket holder at the Denver Center for Performing Arts for over 30 years. She frequented shows on Broadway and in London’s West End. She loved Monet, and treasured touring his gardens in Giverny, France. She also was drawn to the images of the American Southwest immortalized by Georgia O’Keeffe.

Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and friends. She is survived by her daughter and best friend Danielle (Harold) Dally Brigman and the three lights of her life, her granddaughters Emily, Megan and Brooke Brigman of Destin, Florida. Siblings: Glen (Shirley) Feldman, Vern (Theresa) Feldman, many nieces and nephews, her decades-long companion John (Jack) Lane and loving friends who became her family over the years. She is also survived by her former husband Richard Dally. Her dear cousin, Doris (Farney) Schueller passed one month after Diane, no doubt missing her weekly visits with updates and treats.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents Herman and Alverda Feldman, niece Kathleen Feldman, nephews James Feldman, Joe Feldman and Richard Feldman and great-nephews Barrett Jones and Maclean Feldman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to one of her favorite charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ASPCA, American Heart Association, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, National Park Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.