Dianna W. Stelts
Feb. 14, 1947-July 13, 2019
Dianna Stelts, 72, of Chesterfield County peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 13, 2019 surrounded by a host of family and friends.
Dianna was a devout Christian with unwavering faith for 43 years. She was a member at The Celebration Center in Richmond, Virginia. Dianna was a devoted wife, a loving mother, an exceptionally loving grandmother and most recently a vivacious great-grandmother. She was a great listener and encourager to everyone she came in contact with. Many regarded her as their second mom or the mother they never had. She was kind, compassionate and accepted others as they were. Dianna did not pass judgement but simply loved people and wanted them to see the best in themselves no matter their walk of life.
She was a telephone operator at AT&T for many years. After retiring from the telephone company she became a trainer for the catalog department at JC Penney. From there she kept herself busy working part time at her local Walmart where she was loved by her co-workers and even had favorite customers who would only come to her line. She then became the primary caregiver to her first great-grandson where she poured her heart into loving and nurturing him.
Dianna enjoyed traveling abroad which mostly consisted of cruising with her husband, friends and her daughter. She also enjoyed helping others by giving “labors of love” to include purchasing food, purchasing clothing, giving rides to work, and anything that would lighten another’s load. Dianna absolutely adored her family. They were everything to her. She walked through many trials with her kids and grandkids and always motivated them to do better and be their best. Dianna is credited for the strength and courage her family has because of how she loved and nurtured them.
She is survived by her loving husband, Richard “Dick” Stelts; her son, Richard Childers (Meg); her daughters, Wendy Holt and Debra Bonaparte; three adult step-children; her brothers, Samuel Warren (Bonnie) and Joseph Warren (Maritza); her sister-in-law, Jeannie Warren; her grandchildren, Angelica McIntosh (Joey), Dale Morgan, and Tyler Lowe; her great-grandson, Bronson McIntosh; her bestest buddy, Betty Conner; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends
She was preceded in death by her father, Charlie Warren Jr; her amazing mother, Ruby “Nanny” Courtney; and her brothers, Charles Warren, John Warren (Roberta), and Larry Warren.
A celebration memorial service will be held at 6 pm on Friday, July 19, 2019 at The Celebration Center located at 879 Research Road Chesterfield VA 23236. The family will accept visitors from 5p to 6p just prior to the service. Interment will be private.
Memorials may be made to: The Celebration Center (She loved her church and the ministry it provides)
Mom you will be forever missed.you have taught me so much.i wish I could tell you how much you are missed.but God has a angel with him.love you forever.
Mom i love u so much and now understand the pain u had when nanny passed. Rest easy. You deserve it. Marc is taking great care of me! God was so awesome in allowing us those 3 hours from.12a to 3a the day you passed so you could tell each of us individually how much you loved us. And wow, i believe your words to tyler will be what sustains him for the rest of his life. God is good and though i dont understand all of this, i will def honor u by being strong, happy, full of life, traveling, being an awesome employee for my practice, keeping God first always, trusting God with my life, being snippy when needed and most of all by loving others as you loved withput judgement. I love u and u already know this. Help me this week from up there. I know ur in a better place but im not and def need ur strength
Xoxoxoxoxoxox. Love ya mom
We love and miss you so much! Thank you for being relentlessly giving and loving and always supporting me. We will pick up the pieces and carry on knowing that you’re smiling down on us, and we’ll see you again one day. ❤
She was always sweet to me and always had a kind word to say. Also loved her dry sense of Humor?
Your precious mom was always so encouraging to Danny and I as her pastors and friends. She never had anything negative to say to us in over 30 years. We loved her and will miss her! Our love and prayers are with you all.❤
Dianna,
Thank you for being you, I’m forever grateful for you and for you helping me with the passing of Nathan. You were always so stunningly beautiful with a amazing soul. Rest easy mama! I love you!
You touch the hearts of more people than even you knew, but God knows. You always had a smile and sweet words for others no matter what you might have had going on because your faith was not in what could be seen but what you knew God could do. No doubt you heard, well done. I know you will be missed by many until they see you again.
Mrs.Dianna-
Although I missed out on meeting you in person. I have been friends with your loveable daughter Deb since high school. I know you have to be a pretty mighty amazing woman to have raised up a gregarious woman like her. Through Deb’s posts and videos you seemed so full of love with such a captivating spirit.
Im pretty sure you are living your absolute best eternal life in the best hands possible
Just wanted you to know that you created some pretty amazing beautful people.
Thank you for your service
Rest well
You were a second mom to me simply put. I spent many a night at your house growing up with my bff, eating you out of house and home, listening to stories and just hanging out. You always made me feel welcome, and when I got married, you made my husband feel the same way. We will all miss your humor and zeal for life ! You made it home , we love and miss you.
Dianna was my Bestest Buddy for over 30 years. We shared all ups and all downs and always managed somehow to always give God the glory and smile or laugh at everything. I will miss her every day that I have left on this earth, but know that she’ll be the first one that I recognize when I get to heaven. She was definitely an angel on earth and I know she’s now an angel in heaven. Love you Dianna yesterday, today and all my tomorrows.
Diana I will miss you. Thank you for being a good friend and a mother figure after my mom died. I could come to you and ask for advice or anything and you would be there for me. I love you and you were a good friend and mentor. Tell my mom Hello for me.. enjoy eternity at Jesus feet and looking into his sweet face and praising his wonderful name.
Dianna,
I only met you in person once, but I could tell by the many posts Debra made of you, that you were one spunky, lively, fun lady! So glad I had the pleasure of meeting you last year. Rest In Peace. ~Jessica and Jermain Baker
Beautiful woman and precious family, all my love prayers are with you.
Dear Debra and Family,
I was so sad to hear that your Mom has passed and surely she is with our Lord now. Please know that I send you my love and caring thoughts to you and the family during these difficult days. I know you are a blessing to your family and your sweet faith and love for our Lord will carry you through these dark days.
Words can’t explain how I feel right now I guess empty and alone .I fine myself going to the places you use to go to .Mom you well never know how much I love you and what you mean to me you have been there for me during the bad and there good .I am the women today because of you .I will make you proud I love you to the moon and back. ❤
Wendy, your Mon & I went to school together & our Fathers were on the Norfolk Police Department together. I knew your brothers & you when ya’ll were very young. Your Grandmother was a Great lady & so devoted to her family. I am truly so sorry for your loss & hope to be reunited some day with your Mon in that special place.
Words can’t explain how I feel right now I guess empty and alone .I fine myself going to the places you use to go to .Mom you well never know how much I love you and what you mean to me you have been there for me during the bad and thee good .I am the women today because of you .I will make you proud I love you to the moon and back. ❤
DIANA was always so sweet and one of a kind! She always smiled with a simple peaceful joy! She raised a daughter that is also one of a kind!! Debra is one of the most beautiful women in the world. She can only be that because of her mom…well and her nanny!! I am so sad in this flesh here on earth but I know she has claimed her heavenly home and has no worries or pain here on earth any more! Sending love to all!
I met Diana at Victory Tabernacle Church of God. She was such a sweetheart .We also had many conversations about weight loss etc. We went through those times together, Thank you ! I would see you at Walmart also and you were always so sweet. You will be missed. I will be praying for all the loved ones you left behind. I am sorry I will not be able to attend the service , I will be on vacation . Sending my love to you all !!! <3 Theresa Freeman
I never knew Mrs. Stelts too well, but from all of my time and interactions with her, I knew that she was a sweet, loving, and godly grandmother that I attempted to adopt as one of my own. The fact she prayed for me and my last surgery, without even knowing or meeting me, definitely melted my heart. Though she’s with the Lord now, her sweetness and kindness still shows and lives on through her Daughters, Grandchildren, and even great grandson. God bless her, her family, and may she Rest in Paradise.
I will always remember the good times Debra and I had with you and with our babys. You were such a loving and caring person and always had a big smile on your face . I will miss you . I know you and Nanny are praising the Lord together. Love you always?
I will miss you greatly Dianna, but I know you are in a better place! I’m glad you were able to live & enjoy life with your family & friends! We all love you so much, and will miss you at our future “Walmart” outings! I will miss your smile, but I know you’re still smiling up there while looking down over your loved ones! You will never be forgotten!! ❤ R.I.P.
Sorry, I can’t make it to your service but my heart will be there!
Oh Diane, it has been so many years since I have known where you had gotten, we had such a great time sharing our friendship in school & living in Norfolk. Every time I go by Smitty’s I think of you & wondered where you have gone. Our last conversation was about this amazing man you had met & was ready to spend your life with, I was so happy for you. I am truly sorry that we lost touch over the years. Your Mon & Dad were such good Christian’s & you followed in there great path. What a wonderful life you had, but I’m very saddened I missed out on your happy life.
Debra, Wendy, Richard
I am so sorry about the passing of your mom. Although many years and miles have passed between us, I will always remember the many many times when I was younger that I spent at your house. Momma Dianna always made sure that i felt like I was one of her own, to feeding me because she thought I was too skinny, to clothing me when needed and most of all making me feel SAFE when things were bad at my own home. I always knew i could count on all of you to be my family when needed. Although I can not be with you during this time I think about you often and I am praying for comfort and strength for you all during this time. All my LOVE!!
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. Your mom was my trainer when I started at JCP. We became friends over the years and I soon realized what a great sense of humor she had! She is gone much too soon. She dearly loved her family and spoke about everyone all the time. Rest in peace sweet friend ❤.