Diana Rose Morgenstern of Byron Center, Michigan, age 67, passed away early Monday morning, July 20, 2020, after an 8+ year battle with cancer. She was born to Alfred and Estelle Domuret on October 29, 1952, in Chicago, IL. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, David Morgenstern, her brother and his wife, Dennis & Barbara Domuret of Texas City, Texas, her sister-in-law, Jeanne Domuret, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, and many special and much-loved nephews, nieces, grandnephews & grandnieces. She was preceded in death by her older brother, Roger Domuret - as well as his wife, Faye, and her oldest brother, Allan Domuret (Jeanne).

Diana was a 1974 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and received her Master of Education degree from Western Michigan University in 1984.

Diana began her teaching career as a substitute teacher at various Grand Rapids area schools when she and David moved to West Michigan (for David's job) just a month after their wedding in May of 1976. She started her full-time teaching position at Grandville High School in 1979 and retired in 2011 to battle her cancer.

Diana loved teaching French - and she loved her students. She enjoyed interacting with them in so many ways including fun classroom projects and even organizing student summer trips to France. And she loved that several of her students went on to become teachers themselves - inspired by her teaching and her friendship. She took pride knowing that many of her students went into careers that required French-speaking skills. Diana kept in touch with many of her students and attended many of their weddings, baby showers, and birthday celebrations.

Diana also loved her volunteer work at Meijer Gardens - especially as the tram narrator on Tuesday afternoons. She made so many friends at Meijer Gardens and enjoyed working with all of them. And, there was the annual "Butterfly" exhibit! A child's look of excitement & wonder as a butterfly crawled out of its cocoon was her reward for her many hours of volunteering.

Diana had a special place in her heart for the many feral kittens that came to her door looking for food and love. Several would become special family members and would shower her with love and purrs when she had a bad day of chemo.

Thank you to all the fabulous chemo nurses at Cancer & Hematology Center, Dr. Mark Campbell, and the special ladies at Faith Hospice.

At her request, cremation has taken place. Diana asked that her ashes be spread over the graves of the many fur babies she loved that are buried in her backwoods.

In light of the pandemic, a celebration of her life will be scheduled for a later date.

Donations in her memory may be made to Meijer Gardens by visiting: https://bit.ly/MeijerGardensMemorial or via mail at:

Meijer Gardens
Attn: Tribute Program
1000 East Beltline Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525