Obituary of Diana M. Zagraniczny

Diana M (Pabis) Zagraniczny, 75, of Rome, passed away on Friday, August 16th, surrounded by family, at Oneida Hospital. Diana was born in Rome on July 3, 1949, the daughter of John and Anna (Siepliola) Pabis. Raised on her parents’ farm in Rome, she learned the rewards of hard work, faith, and strength in family. She graduated from Westmoreland High School in 1966, and devoted her career to mental health, working for the State of New York until retirement. She married Stanley Zagraniczny on August 4, 1985, and they enjoyed 39 wonderful years together.

Diana belonged to The Church of The Annunciation in Clark Mills and Transfiguration-St. Johns in Rome. She was very active in church life, serving as a teacher in the CCD program. She also worked with the Children’s Liturgy, under Sister Joan, and continued it in Sister Joan’s absence.

In retirement, Diana enjoyed traveling the US and abroad. She and Stanley made treks to Alaska, China, England, and Scotland. Her favorite destination was their trip to Poland where she was able to connect to her ancestral roots.

Diana was an avid, accomplished, and gifted quilter. She belonged to the Pieceful Gals Quilt Guild and crafted numerous quilts for family and friends. She donated several quilts to Quilts of Valor to be presented to veterans and charities. Her family all have numerous pieces of her handiwork to keep them warm in her absence.

Scrapbooking was also a hobby in which she invested her time, completing many volumes chronicling special times and places. One will see her greatest passion was her family, with page upon page showing holidays, parties, sporting events, and school band concerts.

She was best known for her disarming charm and her gift for engaging in conversation. She made friends wherever she went, often striking up conversations with strangers who would become great friends.

Diana is survived by her husband Stanley Zagraniczny, a son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Heather Johnson of Rome; a daughter and son-in-law, Carrie and Michael Maiale of New Paltz; five grandchildren; Grace, Hayden, Jackson, Cole, and Anna; her sister and brother-in-law; Jean and Raymond Gaul; sister-in-law Jackie (Robert) Pabis; brother-in-law Joseph (Linda) Zagraniczny; sister-in-law Rose (Richard) Wroblewski; brother-in-law John Zagraniczny; many nieces and nephews that she truly loved, as well as a wealth of extended family and friends that loved her dearly. She is predeceased by her brother Robert (Jackie) Pabis and sisters-in-law Regina and Patricia Zagraniczny.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 23^rd at 11:00 a.m.Transfiguration Church, 111 Ridge St., Rome NY 13440. Interment will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to call at Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome NY 13440, on Thursday, August 22^nd from 4-7:00 p.m. Donations in Diana’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the church of your choice.

You may view the obituary and send a message of sympathy at www.nunnandharper.com.