Dianne McKillips

Dianne with her thick black hair and large dark eyes was a beautiful child. Her mother Mildred Speight would dress her in red coats and hats. As Dianne matured, her beauty continued and her heart grew large with love of family and friends, devotion to family centered her life.

When Dianne entered heaven on March 11, 2020 at Duke Hospital, she was embraced by her Lord and Savior and her mother and given the solace of death from the physical pain of this earth.

In the beginning Dianne, her mother and sister, Sharon Cole formed a loving and strong bond at their home in Raleigh. As many, they struggled to survive financially. Life was not about material possessions, but about love and compassion.

Bluegrass and southern gospel music, camping, NC State athletics and traveling with her husband, Lee filled many of her days. She never passed up a good story and loved to laugh.

Dianne was known by Sharon’s grandchildren, Audie, Brooks and Avery, as Nana and Dee Dee. They brought her much joy and happiness and they held a special place in her heart.

Her family meant the world to her. Her beloved husband, Lee was at the center of her happiness. She was very proud of her sons, Stephen Snell, who bares a strong resemblance to his mother and Stacy Lee McKillips (Angela) and her grandson, Justin Lee McKillips. She had a special bond with her sister, Sharon Cole (Walter), and her nephews: John Cole (Lindsey) and their sons: Audie and Brooks and Grant Cole (Julia) and their daughter, Avery.

Dianne and her sister, Sharon Cole, have shared the circle of life through childhood and life as parents and friends. Many say “There is no daylight between them, “they are joined at the heart”.

At the end of her life, Dianne requested to be cremated and to not have a public funeral. These wishes reflect her great sense of privacy and we her family wants to honor her request.

We appreciate thoughts and prayers during this time. We as a family say, “We love you and will meet you in Heaven”.

We ask friends and family to celebrate Dianne’s life by considering a donation to Gideon, North Raleigh Campus.                                                                                              

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dianne McKillips, please visit our floral store.