Diane Falconieri

Diane Falconieri

04/28/1936 — 05/16/2021

Diane Falconieri, 85, of Anchorage, Alaska, peacefully passed away on May 16th, 2021, at Iluminada’s Assisted Living Home with her loving children at her side.

Diane was born in San Francisco, California. She was the oldest of 8 siblings. After her divorce, she moved from San Francisco to Reno with her 5 children where she met the love of her life. George worked as a dispatcher at a local cab company and Diane would call very early every morning for a cab to take her to nursing school. George was charmed by the woman whose voice always brightened his day, and he found himself looking forward to her calls. One day he decided he to meet this voice and drove the cab to pick up Diane. When she stepped out of the house and smiled, it was love at first sight. From that day on, they were never apart.

The two soulmates began their lives together with an adventure, taking their combined eight children and moving to the last frontier in 1969. They made their new life in Wasilla, Alaska, where they lived until she lost George in March of 2017. She loved fishing and flying with her “sweetie pie” across the state in his Cessna. She had a playful spirit and enjoyed dice & cards. Diane loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally and they loved her. She loved to have a house full of family and always made sure everyone was bursting with love, laughter, and food.

Diane will forever be remembered by friends and family for her joyful spirit, ever-positive attitude, bright smile, and infectious laugh.

She is survived by her four children, Audrey AyAy-DeHart and Wayne DeHart of Anchorage, AK, Vonni and Patrick Redmond of Hockinson, WA, Dianne Lapham of Willow, AK, and Emilio and Becky AyAy of Wasilla, AK; ten grandchildren, Taila AyAy Redmond, KaSandra DeHart, Ryan AyAy, Kandice DeHart Busque, Mikey AyAy Simms, Britttnee Webb, Aaron AyAy-DeHart, Brett Lapham, Adam AyAy, Jacob AyAy; sisters, Frances Casaba, Lillian MacDonald; and brother Victor Funtanilla.

She was preceded in death by George Falconieri, her husband of 50 years; daughters Emilia Fay AyAy and Myrna Lynne DeHart; parents, Eddie and Ruth Funtanilla; and brothers Donald DeLarra, Daniel DeLarra, George Funtanilla, and Eddie Funtanilla.