1947
2017
Diane was vigorous, energetic, and full of life. She was suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us at the most content, happy, and healthy time of her life. The brilliant light and spirit of this beautiful loving woman, glows brightly in our hearts.
Diane Elaine McMahon was born July 8, 1947, in Ottawa, Ontario,Canada; the second of four children born to Edward William and Joan Ellen McMahon.
Diane crossed the US - Canadian border at the age of five with her mother, father, older brother, Mick, and younger brother, Chris, and the family relocated to Santa Ana, California, for the warmer climate. Her younger sister, Susie, was born in Santa Ana.
Diane attended public schools in Santa Ana until high school, and when she was in tenth grade, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, looking for a cooler climate and changing seasons. Diane graduated from Wilson High School in Southwest Portland, with much of her senior year having been devoted to completing a degree in Dental Science and developing amazing business skills.
Diane went to work at Montgomery Ward in Northwest Portland, and while working there, met Henry Groepper; they married in 1968. Soon, thereafter, Henry joined the Portland Police Bureau, and Diane went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. Diane and Henry spent the next 15 years raising their two children, Christopher Michael and Deanna Lynne, in Vancouver, Washington. Although Diane and Henry later separated, Henry remained a close and dear friend to Diane, as he would also become to her second husband.
Diane and Norm Siler met while working together in the Portland office of the Union Pacific Railroad, and were married in Kauai, Hawaii, in May of 1988. Henry, Diane and Norm developed an uncommon, beautiful, lasting bond, celebrating family and friendship, which continued for the rest of Diane's life.
Diane worked at Union Pacific for 17 years, where she held various administrative and management positions in the Law, Personal Injury Claims, and Engineering departments. She was valued as a smart, efficient and organized professional in everything she did.
Norm accepted a position at the Union Pacific headquarters in 1988, which took them to Omaha, Nebraska, where Diane began working in the legal field. Over the next 16 years, Diane worked full-time as a legal secretary for several law firms. Her infectious, effervescent personality made a lasting impression on people, and she easily made lifelong friends with nearly everyone she met. Diane drew people in with her grace and charm, and she welcomed everyone with a smile and words of encouragement. Always full of energy, Diane raised a family, worked full-time, and still found time to buy, move into, redecorate, and sell four different homes during their years in Omaha.
With the birth of her first granddaughter, Kylie, in 2003, Diane's strong sense of family led her and Norm back home to Portland. Her second granddaughter, Sydney, came along in 2005, and Diane just knew she had to retire, to allow her to spend more time with her precious granddaughters, one of the greatest joys in her life. She played an active role in their school programs and volunteered to help in their classrooms. The woman they knew as "Nana" made it a priority to attend nearly every event in their lives.
Throughout the next 13 years, Nana, Deanna, Kylie and Sydney would spend countless hours together running errands, shopping for clothes and new shoes, having cookies and coffee, getting their nails done, and doing many other fun and interesting things, just being the best of friends. Diane loved life and found joy in the little things. She was always young at heart, and would sometimes be found humming an indistinct tune and dancing happily from one foot to the other, while eating Cheetos or Red Vines after school with Kylie and Sydney… simple, unbridled joy.
Annual vacations with the Whattam family were treasured, special times for Diane and Norm (Nana and Papa), which will always be lovingly remembered. Kylie and Sydney adored their Nana, and she cherished and loved them "to the moon and back." Diane's entire life was centered around family, and she thrived on being the pillar that brought the extended family together for holidays and celebrations. Diane's "joie de vivre" was contagious, and people felt good just because they were around her. All who knew her were privileged to have been enriched by her warm smile and huge, welcoming, loving heart.
Words cannot adequately describe how much this beautiful wife, mother, Nana, sister, aunt and friend is, and will always be missed. ?
Diane is survived by her husband of 29 years, Norman D. Siler, of Portland, her son, Christopher Michael Groepper, of Myrtle Point, Oregon, her daughter Deanna Lynne Whattam (Ken), of Portland, her siblings, Mick McMahon, of Canby, Oregon, Chris McMahon, of Vancouver, Washington, Susie Sale, of Kahului, Maui, Hawaii, and her two beautiful granddaughters, Kylie and Sydney. She also leaves behind her nieces and nephew, as well as dear friends.
Diane's family strongly discourages the sending of flowers.
In lieu of floral gifts, donations in Diane's name may be made to the following organizations:
Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) Foundation
Neuroscience Research
1121 SW Salmon Ste 100
Portland, Oregon 97205
Legacy Hopewell House Hospice
c/o Legacy Hospice Services
Good Samaritan Foundation
PO Box 4484
Portland, Oregon 97208-9964
Providence Medical Foundation
9205 SW Barnes Road
Portland, Oregon 97225
Please visit the guestbook portion of this site and enter a special memory or message.
Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR.503-292-6611
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Skyline Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home - Portland.
April 14, 2019
Dear Diane, we still miss you. We will always miss you. Your were a bright light in our lives. Thank you for marrying into the Siler family. Susan and Leonard
April 13, 2018
Friend
Bill & Tami Nooning
To Norm, Deanna, Chris & Families
We are so very, very sorry to say good bye to Diane. It has been almost a year since she has been gone, and we miss her so very much! She was such a warm, caring person and was loved by everyone she met! Diane had a heart of gold ~ was such a generous person ~ and had many artistic talents especially when it came to her stain glass! We love all of the stain glass pieces she did and treasure the several pieces she made for our home! And Diane loved her family! She was always the person to get everyone together! May all the wonderful memories you have of Diane remain always close to your heart.
"May tender memories soften our grief,
May fond recollection bring us relief
And may we find comfort
And peace in the thought
Of the joy that knowing
Our loved one brought.
For time and space can never divide,
Or keep our loved one from our side."
Author ~ Unknown
Love to you all Bill & Tami
November 20, 2017
Jim GOODWIN
My fondest memory of Aunt Diane was meeting her for the very first time. One might think that she would be soft-spoken because of her small, petite stature -- but I learned quickly that she packs a serious punch! :-) She was funny, feisty, and fierce -- characteristics I will cherish forever. Thank you for always making me feel loved and part of the Family!
Love,
Jim Goodwin
November 20, 2017
Kelli Goodwin
Dearest Aunt Diane,
As I sit and write this note to you, I am overwhelmed and overjoyed with all the wonderful memories we shared with you & Uncle Norm over the years. For me, personally, I was fortunate to know you my entire life and cannot deny that we shared a special bond. I always admired your skills to make a house a home, fill every room with smiles and laughter, and your passion for creating beautiful things.
Your energy was contagious and you always saw the humor in any situation (good or bad). The last story you told me was about going out to a nice dinner with your brother, but when he came to pick you up, he was dressed in old jeans and a t-shirt. I love this story because of your hilarious response to his attire. Rather than thinking well, we should probably go to a less formal restaurant because of the way he's dressed', you just looked at him and said well jeez, give me a second to change out of these stuffy clothes! If you're going casual to this place, then so am I!
Thank you for bringing sunshine into this world, and every room you walked into. Thank you for always making everyone feel loved and treasured. You had a heart of gold that can never be replaced.
We miss and love you so very, very much. I know you are an angel looking over us every day and watching Sydney & Kylie (plus Emerie and our new baby girl on-the-way) grow up to be strong, loving, generous women -- just as you were to everyone you encountered.
Love you forever and always,
Kelli, Jim, Emerie, and Baby Goodwin
November 15, 2017
Steve and Linda Semmer
Dianne was such a lovely soul. We were very blessed to have her in our lives. She was fun, gregarious and so full of life. We miss her very much and think of her often. We know she is sending blessing to all her loved ones and particularly her family.
We cherish her memory.
November 15, 2017
Terri Walsh
I soooo miss my Dear Friend. (It's still hard to believe that I can't just "drop her a line" or call when I want?)
November 14, 2017
John & Lucie Verdeal
Norm and I have known each other since High School. He was Best Friends with my Friend Bill, and Tami Nooning. Bill would always let me know when Norm and Diane were coming to Colorado to see his Family and we got together when we could. My wife Lucie enjoyed both Norm and Diane as a couple but Lucie had a special friendship and respect for Diane.
When we heard of this terrible loss...our hearts were broken. We bought a card...but I could never bring myself to express to Norm...what my heart was feeling for his loss...and put it into words.
To the Siler, and the McMahon Families Lucie and I want to tell you...that from our perspective...Diane McMahon Siler...left the world in a better place...than it was before she entered it.
You are all...but especially you Norm...in our hearts and our prayers.
Sincerely,
Johnnie and Lucie Verdeal
June 14, 2017
Wanda Warren
I met Diane 40 plus years ago at UPRR. I will always remember how she went out of her way to help me with whatever I needed to be successful on the job. Diane always had a strong love for her family and was a proud grandmother. I will especially miss her at our monthly railroad gatherings.
June 11, 2017
I first met Diane when she started dating my brother. The family loved her instantly and she will be missed by all the Siler clan.
June 8, 2017
chris mcmahon
Diane is my Big Sis.I am sad.I am honored.I will live each day in the comfort of knowing she is watching over us ALL;as always.I love You Di.Chris
June 6, 2017
Diane will always have a special place in our memories.
Mike and Arlee Webb
June 5, 2017
Shirley Wetherell
Diane and Norm have been our Saturday night dates for 30 years. She was a special lady, fun, and is missed every day but especially on Saturday's.
May 31, 2017
Andrea Laidlaw Lautenbach
Family was everything to Diane. My family and I were blessed to be welcomed into Diane's heart as if we were her family. We remember her as the selfless, loving, energetic grandma who always had time to help her girls and loved to be involved. We are all better off for having her in our lives, and will miss her dearly.
May 31, 2017
I met Diane when I was 8 years old and we were best friends all throughout our school years. We kept in touch through weddings and for several years after that until we lost touch. We reunited when we were older and it was instantly like we had never been apart. Diane was a wonderful friend--kind, fun , and completely devoted to her family. I was so sad to hear this news! She will always be my best childhood friend and beyond. I have so many wonderful memories of things we did together and there is a special place in my heart only she can fill. My prayers for your whole family. Love, Lynne Garner Cabrera
May 31, 2017
Shaela Priaulx-Soho
Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
May 31, 2017
Terri (Vanhoye) Walsh
A SWEET friend of many, many years! Although we rarely saw each other after her move to Oregon, we remained "in touch" with cards ... especially since we shared a (month of) JULY birthday. We were days apart ... and "congratulated" each other with every MILESTONE reached! EVERYONE will miss her smile and sweet, sweet personality. RIP, My Friend.
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