Diane Marie Ward (Hruby) passed away at home Saturday, October 31, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Diane was born at St. Luke’s Hospital on May 4, 1940 to John and Elsie Hruby (Jelinek) who lived on E. 131st Street in Cleveland at their Paint and Wallpaper Store and residence. Diane was a current resident of Nelson Twp for the past 12 years living on her son-in-law’s farm, the Collins Farm, on Bloom Road. Prior to that, she was a resident of Chagrin Falls.
Diane attended Holy Family Grade School where she met her husband to be while clapping erasers. Her husband, Joseph, was in the 8th grade and Diane was in the 7th grade. Joseph and Diane would part ways for high school with Diane going to Hoban Dominican.and Joseph moved on to Holy Name High School. Both remained good friends. After high school Diane left Ohio to join the Order of St. Francis Sisters in Illinois. Diane had thought she wanted to become a nun and a teacher; but her love for Joseph and the yearning to have a family of her own would draw her back to Ohio.
Joseph and Diane married on June 30, 1962. At this time Joseph was in the United States Navy based in Jacksonville Florida where the two would live for the next year and a half. Joe and Diane’s oldest daughter was born in the hospital on the Navy base in the fall of 1963. That following Spring Joe and Diane would move back to Ohio where they purchased their life-long home of 48 years on County Lane in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
While living in Chagrin Falls Joseph and Diane were members of St. Joan of Arc Parish. Diane spent many years volunteering at the church and school. She helped with the annual rummage sales, substitute teaching, playground duties, and lunchroom mom. Diane was always willing to give a helping hand.
After Diane’s 4th child was old enough to come home from school on her own, Diane took a job with PSI and became a Health Aid for the Solon School System for 17 years. Diane genuinely enjoyed being around students and listening to them when they needed a little extra attention or did not feel well.
Diane leaves behind her husband Joseph of 64+ years, her 4 children; Barbara, Christine, Joseph and Sandra, their spouses, 10 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and one on the way, and many nieces and nephews. Diane also leaves behind her life-long friends, Rosemary Goetz (Sweeney) of San Jacinto, CA, and Cathy Krane (Donicheck) of Brecksville OH, whom she was friends with from an incredibly early age; and Sara and Dee, her friends/neighbors. Diane was preceded in death by her parents, John and Elsie Hruby, her in-laws Joseph and Barbara Hudec, her brother John and his wife Sylvia, her sister JoAnne and her husband Steve and their oldest son Steve Ronyak, Diane’s oldest nephew; and her life-long school friend Joyce Krajsa (Cerny) of Northfield, Ohio.
Per Diane’s wishes, there will be no viewing or service, and the family will hold a private burial at a future date. Arrangements are being handled by Best Funeral Home in Middlefield, Ohio.
