Diane Babka

Diane Babka passed away peacefully while in hospice care on Thursday, April 11, 2024, a few days shy of her 90TH birthday. Diane was born on April 13, 1934, in Berwyn, Illinois to Fred and Edith Secker. She is survived by her younger brother, Gene Secker, her three sons, James (Patti), Rick (Dina) and Gary (Gina), as well as eight grandchildren, Casie, Ryan, Carly (Evan), Katie, Patrick (Janelle), Mitchell, Kyle and Piper, and four great-grandchildren, Addy, Ophelia, Grayson and Dawson.

As a girl, Diane trained both as a gymnast and a swimmer, joining her school’s varsity swim club and graduating with the class of 1952. Later, after being “coaxed” into a double date by a friend, she met her future husband James “Jim” Babka. They fell in love and married in 1955, thereafter welcoming their three sons. In 1970, they moved their family to Naples, Florida where they not only built a home in Pine Ridge, but the Naples Gulf Apartments on 8TH Street North, which Diane managed while Jim did the handiwork.

In 1986, the couple bought a seasonal home in the mountains of West Virginia where they spent the Spring and Summer months every year. Jim would tinker in the barn while Diane would concoct delicious jams and jar peaches. She kept lush gardens filled with fruits, veggies and flowers. They even tried their hands at winemaking, (emphasis on tried).

Diane was a romantic, as anyone who had seen her vast library of romance novels would know. She was a watcher of soaps and classic films. An avid knitter, gifting each member of her family with intricate Christmas stockings a tradition that will be carried on by her granddaughter, Katie. An ace at cards. A feeder of hummingbirds. A baker of bread, most notably her infamous chocolate bread. A giver of warm hugs. A drinker of ice-cold Riesling. A listener of big band music and a dancer in living rooms.

At Diane’s request, there will be no service. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband in West Virginia. Diane, Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, you are missed dearly by all who knew and loved you.