Obituary of Diana Marie Paige

May 22, 1956 – May 25, 2018

Diana M. Paige.  Age 62 of Riverview

Beloved wife of the late Douglas Paige. Loving mother of Douglas Paige II, Rebecca Paige, and Carrie Nevin. Dearest grandmother of Adriane Newhall, Emily Nevin and Alaina Nevin. Great grandmother of Quincy Newhall. Dear sister of Sr. Chris Gretka, Cindy Schanz, Walter (Sally) Gretka Jr., David (Patty) Gretka and Paul (Nicci) Gretka.

FAMILY TRIBUTE

Diana Marie (Gretka) Paige was the fourth of six children born to Mary Rose (Kolniak) and the late Walter James Gretka.  She and her brother, David, were twins.   There was a special bond between them, and she was always willing to go the extra mile for him.

From the beginning of her life, Diana had to overcome challenges. Weighing less than 5 pounds, she was very tiny and had to remain in the hospital an extra week after her mother brought David home. As a child, she was a joy to be around and fun to care for.  She had a beautiful smile.  Diana was filled with enthusiasm and determination when it came to her studies at Christ the Good Shepherd Elementary School, Aquinas High School, and Wayne County Community College. 

During her high school years, she made many friends among her classmates and team-mates on the softball team.  Some of her high-school friends called her “Pee-Wee” and “Dynamighty.”  

The classes Diana enjoyed most were French and Math. She loved to dabble in poetry.  Diana taught herself to play the piano and really liked to play for her own pleasure for long periods of time. 

Diana married the love of her life, Douglas Allen Paige, on December 8, 1982.  At that time, Douglas had two daughters, Becky and Carrie, whom she welcomed into the family as her own.   On July 14, 1986, she gave birth to Douglas Allen Paige II.

Diana was a fan of the Tigers and the Red Wings.  She enjoyed watching college football, especially when her teams won.  She delighted in walking and taking care of her dogs which were part of her daily routine.  She liked going to the movies, especially science-fiction, super-heroes, adventures, and dramas.

Some of the many challenges she faced over the years were the loss of her father in March of her senior year of high school, the death of her husband nearly eleven years ago due to cancer, and her own diagnosis of a very aggressive form of cancer last August.  Through all of these experiences, her faith carried her through.  She had great inner strength, hope, courage, a realistic view of what lay ahead of her, and the will to pursue to the best of her ability every avenue to choose life in the face of death. 

Diana worked at various jobs throughout her life: at a florist shop, the Mellus Newspaper, the News Herald, as bookkeeper for Abba Fence, as receptionist and in billing at Zuber Buick Dealership, in medical supplies at Vibra Health Care, and most recently, in food and nutrition at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital.

Above all, Diana loved family and being with family.  She was a homebody.   Cooking and cleaning were not as exciting as mowing the lawn (as she took great pride in caring for her yard), or washing and cleaning her favorite car, a Cougar which she owned for many years.  Diana was content in her own corner of the world.  She was very committed to her faith and the Church.  She enjoyed participating in community events: Summer Fest, local art fairs, and concerts in the park.  The simple things in life made her happy.  Diana was grateful for what she had and was generous and willing to share it with others.