Dianne Marie

Dianne "Went Home" to be with her savior, family and friends on April 7, 2010 at her home in Lake Havasu City, AZ.Dianne Marie (Billmaier) Day was born to Alphonse (Bob) J. and Verna J. (Sievert) Billmaier on April 24, 1943 in Monroe Michigan. She contracted Polio in 1948 (age 5)along with her aunt Roseanne (Sievert) Venzke. They both survived with the help of faith, family and March of Dimes. She attended St. Michael's Elementary and St. Mary'sAcademy (high school) and graduated in 1961. Dianne had a beautiful voice that was requested for weddings..When she tried to enter the military to become a pilot she was unable to pass the physical. She then completed training in Minnesota to become a flight attendant. However, when applying at various airlines, she was deemed too tall for the aircraft of that time. She moved to Detroit, MI and became a reservationist for American Airlines. Later she moved to Toledo, OH working various jobs including dancing at a "Go Go" Club.Not finding her niche she decided to travel west (via Route 66) when her cousin Larry began his Masters at California State Los Angeles in the Fall of 1965. She used her knowledge to become a travel agent. She eventually "cut her teeth" in real estate by becoming an administrative assistant for a builder Southern California.She met her soul mate Claude (Curly) Day at Cranley's in 1967 and they were married in August 1971. That is about the same time they purchased their first property in Lake Havasu. Together they bought, remodeled, rented and/or sold houses in Orange County, CA as well as Lake Havasu City. By 1981, she also had obtained her California Real Estate License.When Curly retired from ARCO (now BP) at 55, they began to travel in 1982. First cruises and then camping with a 5th wheel to escape the summer heat. In 1991 the effects of the polio (post-polio syndrome) returned. It then became all about adapting mobility and pain management to remain as independent as possible. During that year she also lost her father. Her devoted husband gave her the support to keep going. And, it was because of Dianne that he remained close with his children and grandchildren.Dianne was very creative. From cooking wild game, designing her own swimwear and baking she excelled. She also enjoyed convertibles, estate auctions, tweety bird, "Survivor", haggling with street vendors and, of course, flying.After Curly's death in 2003, her sister Kathleen, also a recent widow (Ernest R. Schildbach in 2001), came to live with her in Lake Havasu City. They took several vacations together until she was diagnosed with COPD in 2007. She was a fighter, struggling to return to baseline after each successive episode of pneumonia. Thank you to Dr. Jean Weaver for all her effort and expertise throughout those 3 years. There were also numerous RNs, RTs, PTs, CNAs, and Paramedics that got to know her on a first name basis. A thank you also goes to Cindy Neill, New Hope Hospice and Comfort Keepers for making her last days comfortable and peaceful.She is survived by her aunt Roseanne (Sievert) Venzke of Tucson, AZ; sister Kathleen A (Billmaier) Schildbach of Lake Havasu City; brother Frederick J Billmaier of Wellington, CO, brother Richard J (Tatyana) Billmaier of Winfield, IL and brother Alan M. Billmaier of Newburgh, NY. She is also survived by numerous cousins and god children, especially Gretchen (Stuwe) Keohane of Andover, MA and Yvette Levingston of Austin, TX. From her husband's family she is survived by her step daughters Claudia (Day) and Jack Hayes of Lakewood, CA and Cathy (Day) Lamb of Long Beach, CA. Stepson Edward (Gaby) Day died in 1992. She has 13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, grandparents and 16 aunts and uncles. She will be dearly missed by all.Please send your condolences to the family through Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory, www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Private memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please donate in her memory to post-polio syndrome research. Post-Polio Health International, 4207 Lindell Blvd. #110, St. Louis, MO63108-2930 Website: www.post-polio.org, Phone 314-534-0475. Or check: www.clinicaltrials.gov for related research projects.Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.comArrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.