Diana Maria Morales Navarro

Diana was a university graduate, world-wide traveler, award winning teacher, accomplished artist, published author, holder of a Master’s Degree, humanitarian, inventor, advocate, nurturer, herbalist, star-gazer, daughter, sister, wife, friend, but most importantly, she was our magnificent multifaceted mother.

Our beloved mother was an intrepid explorer and adventurer. Didi has traveled everywhere from Asherton to Alaska, Michigan to Milan, and San Antonio to South Carolina. Our mother was enlightened and enriched through her travels and adventures with friends and family. Above all, our mother loved to travel in order to explore the beauty and mysteries of the natural world around us. Mom loved to listen to the sermon of the songbirds in the trees, worship by the life giving waters of a river, lake or stream and pray to the stars and the great forces of the universe which grant life and love and all the wonders in between.

Our mother was also our first, and greatest teacher, and an inspiration to countless other children and young men and women who sat within her classes. Didi was a proud educator with over 20 years of service in both S.A.I.S.D. and N.I.S.D. She began her distinguished career helping young women attain high school graduation in the Juvenile Justice Program. Through Didi's determination, silent strength, innovative methods, and endless compassion, she helped others experience the exhilaration of success.

Anyone who spent time with our mother was enriched by her presence, her humor, her creativity, and her friendship. As The Beatles sang, “…to know her is to love her.”

Although words are inadequate to express our sorrow, we can honor Diana forever and have her live on through our collective words of kindness and support, acts of compassion towards others, and having thoughts of equality, positivity, and justice guide us in all matters.

As a proud Chicana, who believed in La Raza Cosmica, our mother would want us to remember her departure is not a death, but an after-life, a spiritual rejuvenation living apart from the tired, earth bound body. It is a time to celebrate a life well lived on earth, as her new life begins in the heavens.

Our graceful mother has now fearlessly embarked on her last great adventure, exploring the galaxy in her glorious spiritual form.

Mom, we love you beyond the edges of the ever expanding universe, where we shall meet again!

"We love you more!"

-Checho, Gabo, Baby Bird

Diana is welcomed home into the loving arms of her father Eliseo G. Navarro, her beloved mother Dora E. Jimenez Navarro, and her cherished sister Maria Theresa “Mayte” Navarro who have preceded her in passing. She will also be reunited with laughter and warmth by many friends and family, including her grandparents Emilio and Carmen Jimenez, Mario Sanchez, Robert Rivera, Antonio Valenzuela, Nick and Belle Navarro, and Gib Wharton. Diana is survived by Ronaldo E. Morales, the love of her life and father of their three children. Diana was the proud and devoted mother to Cesar Ronaldo Morales, Gabriel Omar Morales, and Vanessa Nicole Morales Shallo. She was also the mother-in-law of her new “son”, Michael Shallo. She is also survived by her older brother Ricardo Navarro and sister-in-law Donna Navarro, her niece Liliana (Andrew), and nephew Alex (Tarica) and family. Her younger brother Carlos Navarro, and niece Dora Navarro. She is survived by brothers and sister-in-law and nieces and nephews from Eloi Morales Jr. and Marty Morales (Chris and Brian), Linda Morales (Raymond, Randy, Steven, Leslie, and Tom), Sandra Smith and the late Charles Smith (Isaac, Jacob, Selena, and Cassandra), Karen Bartel (Charles and Richard), Mark Morales, and Lisa Morales (Sophia, Dorian). Diana is also survived by her loving mother-in-law Ofelia Morales, numerous loving aunts, uncles, cousins, compadres, godchildren, and god-daughter Zitra Valenzuela, in-laws, students, and friends.

Services: We will be scheduling a remembrance service and dedication ceremony of a headstone which will be adorned with my mother’s artwork for the Spring. Please visit this site or email Gabriel Morales at [email protected], Vanessa Morales [email protected] , or Ron Morales at [email protected] for information. Thank you.

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“And now for something completely different…”

Checho’s Poem for Mom

When she was a little girl

She had a pet squirrel

She liked painting hummingbirds and flowers,

She believed God was a woman, La Raza is cosmic, and was all about Female Power

She was a wife, a mother

And an animal lover,

She had three kids and a coterie of cats

She coached girls’ softball

And taught her daughter how to bat

She liked horror movies, sci-fi, and herbal remedies

Goodbye Mom

-Checho