Obituary of DiAnn Marie Nolan (Hughes)

DiAnn (Hughes) Nolan, formerly of Alexandria, Apple Valley, and Rosemount, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2024 at Apple Valley Village Care Center.  DiAnn was 76 years old. 

DiAnn Marie Hughes was born on October 12, 1947 to Charles and Elvira (Kuhn) Hughes at Our Lady Of Mercy Hospital in Alexandria.  She was the first born but was quickly followed by three brothers, Rick, Bill, and Greg.  All four were born in less than a four year span.  It was during this time that DiAnn developed her “big sister skills”!  Her brothers will all tell you that she was the most wonderful and loving big sister ever!  Six years later, DiAnn became a big sister again when little sister Carol was born.  She was happy to only be outnumbered by one, and Carol quickly discovered that DiAnn was the “Bestest Sister Ever!!!”  All five siblings remain extremely close because DiAnn modeled the importance of family, even when she was young. 

DiAnn’s formal education started at Washington Elementary in Alexandria where she spent her K-3 years.  She went to St. Mary’s Parochial School for grades 4, 5, and 6.  In May of her 6th grade year when the Catholic Church celebrated the Blessed Virgin Mary, DiAnn was chosen as the May Queen.  She humbly carried in Mary’s crown and placed it on Mary’s head.  It was the biggest honor of her young life. DiAnn’s education continued at Central Junior High and Jefferson High School.  DiAnn graduated with highest honors with the JHS class of 1966.  She has many lifelong friends from St. Mary’s and Jefferson High School.  Following high school she enrolled at Northwestern School of Nursing in Minneapolis, graduating on June 13, 1969.  On July 31, 1969 DiAnn received her Registered Nursing License from the Minnesota Board of Nursing.  Following her wedding on June 21st, 1969, DiAnn and Ron moved to San Antonio, Texas where she worked as an RN at one of the nursing homes in that area.  They soon returned to Minnesota and lived in Edina.  While living there she worked at Edenbrook Nursing Home of Edina.   

It was in Edina that DiAnn discovered she was expecting their first child, and on July 22, 1973, David Charles was born. David’s arrival marked an end to her nursing career.  DiAnn became a stay at home mom.  December of that year also meant a new home in Apple Valley where on August 12, 1976, DiAnn’s mom duties increased when twins Jonathan Paul and James Robert made an early arrival.  DiAnn was definitely meant to be a mom.  All three sons adored their mom. She loved her boys unconditionally, and that love was absolutely reciprocated.  Neighborhood kids often hung out at DiAnn’s house as well.  They would walk into the house where the smell of home baked cookies, bars, cakes, pies filled the air. Treats were plentiful.  A dish full of all kinds of chocolates and other candies and another dish filled with mixed nuts and pistachios were always waiting on the dining room table for snacking . The sound of kids playing reverberated throughout the house.  DiAnn was the hostess with the mostest!  The entire neighborhood was like one big family, often gathering at DiAnn’s for various celebrations. Any occasion, no matter how obscure, was a reason to get together.  The New Year was often brought in with a party at DiAnn’s.  Food was plentiful and was only outmatched by the laughter throughout the house.  Fathers Bob Nygaard, Bob Schwartz, and Greg Esty, all from St. John Neumann, would join the festivities which made this party unique!  If needed, confession was just an ear away!  Those close friendships formed in that Ferris Avenue neighborhood continue to endure to this day!   

DiAnn was lucky enough to acquire her talent in the kitchen from our mom Vi. Her fried chicken was “just like Mom’s!  DiAnn also made the flakiest pie crust ever thanks to Grandma Mayer!  She picked up a few family favorites from Betty Crocker as well.  DiAnn’s lasagna and beef stroganoff were award winners!  Her lasagna…YUM! 

Shortly after DiAnn turned 36, a chronic sore throat turned out to be oral cancer.  She underwent two rounds of surgery and eventually radiation treatment.  It was a bump in the road as DiAnn stayed positive!  Her life went back to normal with a few changes.  She was suddenly a single mom, and our brother (Uncle) Bill moved in with DiAnn and her boys where family remained at the center of their lives. 

DiAnn also entered the workforce around this time.  Always extremely talented with floral designing, she worked at a small Apple Valley floral shop before joining two close friends from SJN, Pat Neppl and Jan Kneer at Sonrise Books and Gifts of Eagan in 1989. The store was renamed Sonrise Books and Floral with DiAnn mainly doing the floral arranging.  Her final place of employment was with the floral department at the Apple Valley Cub Foods where she was selected to make an arrangement for one of their big spring and summer ads!    

Her talents also could be seen throughout her homes.  Walking into DiAnn’s place felt like you had stepped into the newest edition of “House Beautiful” with the latest in holiday and seasonal flowers, wreaths, and decorations adorning every room of her home!  St. Nick’s, some made by her mom and dad and Father Bob, were displayed throughout every room in the house…even the bathroom!  Easter time the bunnies showed up!  Spring, summer, and fall DiAnn was busy with outdoor flowers. DiAnn Marie the Busy Bee had a green thumb and sometimes would use the beautiful blooms in floral arrangements that she shared at church.   

When DiAnn was growing up, Kuhn birthday parties were always a family tradition and she continued to maintain that tradition for all of us, minus the egg salad sandwiches!  For birthday parties she would have party favor bags for all the kids. Pencil boxes filled with a few school supplies and treats replaced bags at “the twins” August party.  If no one had a birthday, DiAnn would find another reason for the family to get together!    

On May 21, 1993 the family grew when DiAnn married Craeg Nolan whom she had met at SJN.  Paula, Andy, Kelly, Alison, and Ellie became part of the family and they, along with their kids, quickly found out how much DiAnn valued family.  DiAnn and Craeg would make trips to Wisconsin to visit daughter Paula and son-in-law Pat, and the grandkids.  DiAnn and Craeg also took a road trip south to visit daughter Kelly and grandson David in Florida.  Celebrations grew in size and so did the joy and laughter when everyone was together.  Christmas was a huge family event which meant two family gatherings so there was room for everyone.  Weeks before, DiAnn would of course decorate every room, bake bunches of cookies, and several batches of Chex mix and caramel puffcorn would be bagged and ready for every guest to take with them. The night before Christmas Eve she was often up until the sun would rise, wrapping the last presents and making sure her lists were complete.  After a short nap, she would be perky as can be Christmas Eve and Day, and would anxiously wait for family to arrive!  The week before Easter found E. Bunny filling several hundred eggs with candy, cash, and stretchy bunnies for the annual Easter Egg Hunt!!!  A very important part of celebrating both holidays was going to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.  We always arrived early so the entire family could sit together. 

Life was going great, but once again cancer reared its ugly head when DiAnn was 56.  It took several doctors to finally discover it.  In the fall of 2003, DiAnn’s life changed immensely but never did it change her positive attitude and love for her family and friends.  The doctors said she had 2-3 years left to live. That was 21 years ago this November.  DiAnn fooled the doctors and the cancer.  It may have taken away her ability to talk and eat, but it did not take away her fighting spirit to see her grandchildren grow up. The invasive surgery did not take away her ability to pour tons of love onto her children David (Cassi), Jamie (Amanda), Jon (Stacy), Paula (Pat), Andy (who died unexpectedly from a heart attack at the age of 34), Kelly, Alison, and Ellie as well as her grandchildren Shaun, Craeg, Austin, David, Magnus, Corvis, Lexi, Alan (who was tragically taken away at 8 years old when he was hit by an out of control snowmobiler), Anavae, Kayla, Chelsea, Samantha, Jordan, Ruby, Marley, and her great grandchildren Jenique and Blake.  She was able to spend many wonderful years with all of us celebrating everything life had to offer.   

The past two years however, were physically very hard for DiAnn.  Several falls slowed her down to the point that she knew she could not be alone in her townhome.  This past year she became a resident at Apple Valley Village Care Center.  Not surprisingly she called it “home” and she soon became a favorite of the caring staff.  Residents loved when DiAnn would put a dish filled with candy in her walker and head to the hallway to see who needed a chocolate pick-me-up!  The past few months she set a candy dish inside and outside of her room for people to stop by for a treat.  She would try her hardest to remain independent, doing as much as she could on her own to make the job easier for the aides and nurses.  They loved her “smile” which you could see in her eyes.  DiAnn always gave them two thumbs up when they asked how she was doing.  And she often blew them a kiss when they left her room.  Staff from Grace Hospice also would tell us how much they loved DiAnn.  We know she was grateful for everything they did for her these final weeks.  Some things never changed no matter how and where she lived!   

After our mom Vi died in 2010, DiAnn became the core of our family.  We were all so blessed to have been lucky enough to have been a part of this amazing woman’s life.  All of us loved her “bunches” and will miss her eyes lighting up when she would share her amazing smile with us.  We will miss the warm hugs she gave us!  Heaven is filled with a lot more beauty now.  I’m sure DiAnn has spread her love and flowers all around!!  And DiAnn dying on September 1st when the first signs of fall started to show their beautiful colors was no accident!.  I’m sure DiAnn planned it this way.  Because after all…DiAnn loved fall most of all!!! 

DiAnn was preceded in death by her husband Craeg Nolan, her parents Charles and Elvira Hughes, their son Andy Nolan, grandson Alan Geisenkoetter, sister-in-law Vicki Hughes, her grandparents William and Mildred Hughes, George and Anna Kuhn, and her many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. 

DiAnn is survived by her children David McMayer (Cassi), James Mayer (Amanda), Jonathan Mayer (Stacy), Paula Olsen (Pat), Kelly, Alison, and Ellie.  Grandchildren Shaun, Craeg, Austin, David, Magnus, Corvis, Lexi, Anavae, Kayla, Chelsea, Samantha, Jordan, Ruby, and Marley.  Great grandchildren Jenique and Blake.  Her brothers Rick Hughes, Bill Hughes, Gregory Hughes (Judy), and sister Carol Hughes. Her sister-in-law Nu Hughes, her nephews and nieces Greg, Mark, Melissa, Bobby, Annie, and Christy. Her aunt Cordy Sanvik, her great nieces and nephews, and many, many cousins and friends 

Funeral services for DiAnn will be held on Friday, September 27, 2024 at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church in Eagan, Minnesota.  Visitation will be from 9:00-10:00 a.m.with the Funeral Mass to follow at 10:00 a.m.  A private burial service for DiAnn will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in October.