Diana Respess | Eastern NC Now

    Mom. Mama. Moo Moo. Aunt Diana. Miss Diane. Mrs. Respess. Diana.

    If you were just lucky enough, you've used one of those names, as all are in reference to Mary Diana Rose Respess. Born in Pungo, NC, on May 2, 1939, the fifth of the seven living children of Stephen Leroy (Roy) and Beulah Mae (Boo) Howard Rose, Diana was instantly surrounded by family and love in that tight-knit community. Growing up, she and her siblings churched, chored, cooked, played, farmed, and lived life together in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house, each child connected by faith, love, a few pranks, and the fear of disappointing their mama. Excellent students all, but Diana was precocious, placing out of first grade. She always blamed her two-year-older sister, Nancy, for that, saying all she ever tried to do was keep up with Nancy-at home, in school, and on the basketball court, where the Rose sisters were legendary in their high school conference. Diana met JR around that time, when he stole her shoe at a local baseball game and threw it in a tree. None of us are really sure if Diana ever got it back. The couple quickly became serious, but young Diana, encouraged by her elder brother, Don, had decided after graduation in 1956 from Pantego High School (where she was awarded Most Outstanding Girl) to attend East Carolina College before getting married. Her excellence in college led to a local principal placing her in a job before she even graduated: Diana's diploma was mailed to her.

    Diana and JR married on June 18, 1960, their firstborn soon arrived, and life bumped along as life does-jobs, more births, some hard deaths, and a move to the farm where they would live together until JR's untimely death in 1999. This home was where Diana raised their children, made them fudge, sewed them clothes and play costumes, taught them about the Lord, worked them in the garden, encouraged them to strive for academic excellence, and prayed for them. Daily. Some of those times were hard, but she persevered, and her children were blessed.

    Her community was also blessed-it was not unusual to find Diana taking an elderly person to get groceries, delivering a mess of collards to someone's doorstep, tutoring math to a neighbor's child, or teaching Sunday School at Union Grove. In her 28 years at Beaufort County Schools teaching grades 3-8, Diana taught hundreds of children, including two of her own. (She said that was hard.) It was rare to go anywhere with her in town and not hear, "Mrs. Respess!" She always had a bright smile and a quick hug for her former students, asking after their families and their grades. Always their grades. Diana's deep love for her siblings transferred to their children as they came along. She used to say the "Rose gene" was strong, enjoying that many of her nieces and nephews bore striking resemblances in looks and mannerisms to her own children.

    A few years after JR died, a series of events led to her move to Bath Creek, where Diana enjoyed her retirement, the ever-changing view of the creek and its wildlife, summers with visiting grandchildren (Cousin Camp), and the occasional trip with her kids. Arthritis and a fall eventually slowed her down, but again she persevered, outliving the ages of both of her parents and of all her siblings who have already passed. Prior to her death, Diana and her walker could still be seen at church, local restaurants with friends, and twice weekly with her personal trainer, Patrick. Special thanks to Merry, Dolores, and any other chauffeurs who kept Diana out and about. Diana loved sweets, coffee in the morning, Labrador retrievers, her cherished friends and siblings, a good book, all vegetables, River City Christian Center, and making people feel loved.

    Diana leaves behind four children and their spouses, 10 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and one sister and her husband, all of whom look forward to seeing her again in glory one day.

    A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM Tuesday April 14, 2026 at River City Christian Center and will be officiated by Dr. Danny Robertson.

    A graveside service will follow at 1:00PM at Davis Cemetery in Pantego, NC.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Respess family.