Diane Irene Zalit

Diane “Dee Dee” Irene Zalit, passed away unexpectedly, the evening of July 1, 2022, at the age of 75 from cardiac arrest.

She was born in Los Angeles, California, on January 16, 1947, to loving parents Ludwig Thomas Dethloff, and Velma Louise Osbrink, joining an already boisterous and joyful family with three older sisters: Marjorie, Louise, and Bonnie, who all doted and spoiled her as the baby sister. She would complete the set of four, which for many years brought delight to one and all at any family gathering that would ever be.

Diane met Frederico Zalit, at the age of 14, when he immigrated to the United States from Brazil. They became fast friends, and he would later become the love of her life whom she would marry in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. He would be the man with whom she would travel the world, move to Brazil, live in various parts of the United States, have and raise 6 children, and enjoy various adventures and escapades. Theirs was a lifelong love affair, filled with great adventure, peaks and valleys, learning, joyful noise, laughter, color, music, poetry, storytelling, and countless opportunities for growth, service, and ever deepening friendship. Despite any obstacles they encountered, their love for one another never wavered. He preceded her in death in February of 2000, and she joins him now. No doubt theirs was as great and joyful a reunion as ours was a heartbreak to lose her.

Our mother was color and light and joy. She delighted in her mortal, human life – in experiencing everything she could of what it was to be a human being. She loved the sun, the moon, the wind, and the rain. She loved the ocean and swimming, the mountains, the forests, animals and pets, reading books, and writing stories. 

She believed that you should love every age you were whatever it was, no regrets for being too young or too old, and enjoy wherever it was you were living, whether it was your favorite place to be or not — to always find and see the good — to not waste time on lamenting what you could not change, or could not have — to not always be wishing for something different and instead enjoy and embrace everything wonderful that was already right there in front of you right now. 

Her children and grandchildren made her eyes sparkle and her heart happy. She loved making new friends and catching up with old friends, mentoring with those in need, talking to strangers, and people of any and every walk of life were free game for her attention and love. Her conversation was enthusiastic, and her laughter was always burbling, whether they were clerks or custodians, wealthy or poor, doctors in an office, or passers-by waiting for the bus or the train. She loved all human beings, and her hugs were warm and available to anyone in need.

She lived her life boldly and beautifully, with humor and delight. She was humble, silly, wise, independent, adventurous, kind, loving, and ever-serving the many people she came into contact with all the years of her life.

She loved life and was deeply devoted to and loved by her family and her friends. She was a bright and shining light to all who knew her.

She is loved and leaves behind many wonderful friends and family members, and most especially her six beloved children, their sweet spouses, and her happy menagerie of grandchildren: Tracy & Jerel Davidson; Dan & Lauren Zalit: Elayna, Kyla, Avery, Evan, Lorelei, & Benjamin; Andy & Loya Zalit: Harrison, Lily, Isaac & Oscar; Grace & Travis Jemmett: Calvin; Dave & Kelly Zalit: Amelia, Lucas, Katy, Max, & Ollie; Peter & Carrie Zalit: Zoe, Charlie, Ezra & Jonah.

We know that we will see her again one day – though this does not ease the missing nor the vacuum of her absence … not just yet. For now, we simply mourn the loss of an incredible mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and influence in our lives and community.

She is irreplaceable and will be sorely missed.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 9th, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the LDS Chapel located at 3300 West 800 North, West Point, Utah 84015.

Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Syracuse Mortuary, 869 South 2000 West, Syracuse, Utah 84075.