Dianne Wepsic

Dianne Elizabeth Mannion Wepsic was born on October 13, 1941, in Greenville, PA. to Michael Leo Mannion and Mary Elizabeth Cunningham. She attended William Penn High School in Greenville and college at Western Maryland College, Peabody Conservatory of Music, and Grace New Haven School of Nursing. Dianne earned an M.S.N. in Nursing Education and Administration and a Masters in Counseling Psychology. 

After becoming a Registered Nurse, Dianne got married and traveled in Europe, including living in Sweden for one year. She had 4 children and was a full-time mother for 25 years. In 1991, she divorced and began a career in psychiatric nursing, retiring in 2020. 

Dianne’s greatest joy was her children, sharing in their lives, and cherishing all of her grandchildren. She was deeply involved in her children’s education at Sandy Hill Nursery School, through homeschooling, and in co-founding the Sky Mountain Life School. With her children, she enjoyed summer road trips to Chautauqua, NY, and camping in the Anza-Borrego Desert, Baja California in Mexico, and the Eastern Sierras.  

Dianne joined the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1976 in La Jolla, CA. Dianne faithfully served the Meeting throughout the years.  She was the guiding star of Family Hour for many years, leading Friends in song before Meeting for Worship. She served on many committees and was Clerk of Meeting in the mid-nineties. During a brief period of time, she lived in Illinois where she served as Clerk in Oak Park Friends’ Meeting. In the last few years, Dianne co-clerked the Community Committee and enjoyed having her daughter Liz work with her on the committee. She was thankful that “Quakers were people working towards the good.” 

As a child, Dianne enjoyed dance and piano lessons. She continued to study music in college and became an accomplished pianist. As an adult she was an avid reader, and her favorite author was Elizabeth Gouge. She also studied celestial navigation, receiving her celestial navigation certification from the Alder Planetarium in Chicago, and enjoyed researching American architects. Throughout her life, she appreciated all her family and ancestors, including all of her Cunningham and Mannion families. She valued her friendships and kept up relationships with her childhood friends as well as the many friends she made as an adult. Dianne also belonged to the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and was a grateful member of Al-Anon. 

Dianne was a fighter and had overcome several serious health challenges in her life. She died on August 13, 2020 at the home of her daughter, Liz who had been caring for her. Dianne’s sister, Marilyn Michelle Mannion, who was also a part of the La Jolla Friends community, died in May 2020.  Dianne is survived by her son, Christopher Terry Wepsic, her three daughters, Rebecca Wepsic Ancheta, Amanda Fox Hui, Elizabeth Jennifer Wepsic, her sons-in-law, Allen Ancheta and Ulysses Hui, as well as her 5 grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Ancheta, Ryan Christopher Guzon Ancheta, Tristan Fox Hui, Trenna Fox Hui, and Tyler Fox Hui.

Dianne will be sorely missed and will be remembered for her intelligence, warmth, talent, and mischievous sense of humor.