Diane Neves Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Our angel mother and grandmother, Diane Laverne Neves (Venturi), passed away on August 9, 2020, in Orem, Utah, at the age of 81. She was born in Los Angeles, California, on August 1, 1939—one month before the start of WWII—to Norman and Melba Venturi. A daughter of Italian immigrants on her dad’s side and Mormon pioneers on her mom’s, she was raised in a happy home with her two younger siblings (Barbara & Norman). During the war, the family moved to El Cerrito then Oakland and lived there for the next couple decades. Mom was a skilled dancer in her aunt Bonnie’s dance studio for over ten years. She attended Oakland Technical High School and loved singing alto in her school choir. She fondly recalled being one of the “frenzied teen fans” at Elvis Presley’s iconic Oakland Auditorium concert in 1956. Her foot was in a cast and Elvis signed it. The historic first meeting of mom and dad (Stephen Gratian Neves) occurred at a basketball game at UC Berkeley. The Italian girl and the Hawaiian boy danced all night to “In the Still of the Night” and fell in love. They were married in Reno, Nevada, on September 7, 1957. For mom, her greatest accomplishment in life was having a happy, loving, successful marriage. She once said that “we loved each other in the beginning and our love has grown through the years until it’s a beautiful thing.” Their love for each other was legendary – they were together for 61 beautiful years. The pinnacle of mom’s ambition was to be a great mother, which she achieved with honors and distinction. She was the proud mother of nine children, six boys and three girls, born over a 21-year period. Mom was endowed with the rare superpower of calm resilience fused with unflappability, which helped create a tranquil space of peace and security for her children. The Neves home was an amazing place of faith, humor, sports, music, dance, theatre, and, above all, dreams. She taught her kids to dream big and cheered them on every step of the way. She gave them wings, she pushed, and they flew. Mom insisted on bringing the family to wherever dad’s business ventures took him. Living in Israel and Hawaii, in particular, provided a special sense of adventure and cultural diversity that brought a richness to the family’s ethos. Her family and her religion were all that really mattered to her. She was a faithful, devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved the Lord. Attending the temple with dad was one of her most cherished activities. Mom prioritized and embodied the Christian virtues of faith, prayer, compassion, forgiveness, scripture study, service to others, church attendance, and living a virtuous life. Her loving discipleship blessed many generations of the Neves clan in deep and lasting ways that can’t be measured. Mom was a truly happy person who saw life through the prism of joy and the lens of possibility. Her joyous existence brightened each of our lives. She was a dynamic, spunky, amazing woman whose quiet leadership moved mighty mountains. We rejoice that she has been reunited with dad, the love of her life, the man of her dreams, never to be separated. Until we meet again, our angel mother… She is survived by sons, Stephen Jr., David (Sabrina), Marc (Cheryl), Matthew (Gregory), Joel (Lara), and Sean (Jessica); daughters, Gina (Jerry) McMillan and Anne-Marie (Desmond) Williams; brother, Norman; 29 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband (Stephen), daughter (Christina), sister (Barbara), and two grandchildren (Natalie and Trent). Due to COVID restrictions, a private service (invitation only) will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2020, at Utah Valley Mortuary, 1966 West 700 North, Lindon, Utah. She will be interred in the Orem Cemetery; where others may also pay their respects. Flowers can be delivered to Utah Valley Mortuary by 5:30 on Friday and Saturday after 9 am. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.

Diane Neves

August 1, 1939 - August 9, 2020

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