PORTSMOUTH-Diane Marie Rockwell, 77, of Portsmouth, Virginia, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 19, 2019, surrounded by her family.

Diane was born in San Francisco, CA, spent some time in Guantanamo, Cuba, and graduated from Churchland High School in Portsmouth, VA. She married the love of her life, Franklin, in 1959; they spent 60 inseparable years together. She had a great love of anything beach-related, especially lighthouses. Some of her fondest memories were of our annual beach vacation to the Outer Banks. She enjoyed her job as a proofreader at the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Diane loved crafting and was passionate about a variety of crafts. A tireless volunteer for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, she knitted blankets for newborn babies of our sailors and Marines. She was a member of many crochet organizations and was involved in several grief support groups. She loved painting and writing and had volumes of original writings. A loyal member of St. Therese Catholic Church, Diane served as their first female lector/eucharistic minister.

Diane is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Franklin C. Rockwell; five children, Allan (Kathy) Rockwell, Barbara (Paul) Broxton, Doris (Ralph) Atkinson, Eric Rockwell, Richard Rockwell; 12 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; sister, Donna Stupski; and brother, David Draper. She was predeceased by her Grammy, Catherine Henrietta Woods; her daughter Therese Bass; son, Clifford Rockwell; and sister, Delores Draper.

A Liturgy of the Resurrection will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 25, at The Church of St. Therese, 4137 Portsmouth Blvd., Chesapeake. The family will receive friends at the church an hour prior. A reception will follow, then burial at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 3920 Airline Blvd., Chesapeake. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at StJude.org. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.