Diane Marie Katchur Haeberlen

Obituary

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | February 08, 2025

Diane Marie Katchur Haeberlen, 76, of Henrico/Richmond, VA, passed away of multiple health issues at St. Mary’s Hospital on Jan 14, 2025.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three of her brothers, Ronald Katchur, Sr., Ernest “Skip” Katchur, and Christopher Katchur, Sr., and is survived by her wonderful son, A.B. Haeberlen, brother Robert Katchur, brother Michael Katchur, and many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Diane was born in McKeesport, PA on May 14, 1948 to Ernest Katchur and Irene Calochak. She was the third born of six kids, and was the only girl. As you can imagine, it was both a blessing and a curse. She was always outnumbered by the boys, but also protected by them.

She went to school in McKeesport and graduated in 1966.

While working at G.C. Murphy Co. in Monroeville, PA, Diane met her now ex-husband. They moved to Harrisburg, PA while Diane was pregnant and that is where her son was born. The family didn’t spend much time there, and moved a few times to Hancock, MD, then Vinton, VA, then finally settling in Richmond, VA.

Diane realized at because the marriage wasn’t going to work out long term, she had to work, so took some courses at community college and got a job working in property and casualty insurance to support herself and her son. She worked in that field until her employer, Kemper, downsized out of Richmond. At that point, she decided she wanted to follow her dream of being a hair stylist. She worked at Arch’s Backstage for a few years until the owner started having health issues. She then went to work at JCPenney’s salon, which was convenient because it was only a tenth of a mile from home. She worked there until some health issues led her to retire a few years early.

She also wanted to make a little extra money, so she became an Avon Representative, which she did for about thirty years.

Diane was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and attended weekly until her health started to decline.

In the 90’s, Diane was looking for something fun to do, so she gave country line dancing a try. It turned out she loved it and joined a group called the Bootscooters. She enjoyed the physical activity and meeting and making new friends.

In 2012, Diane contracted hypothyroidism, which as it turns out made the early signs of dementia evident. She also suffered with arthritis in her knees and back which made mobility a problem. Even though she had these encumbrances, she soldiered on, enjoying life as best she could, simply, but bravely.

In January of 2020, Diane suffered a perforated bowel and was hospitalized for three and a half weeks, including seven days in ICU. Following this hospital stay, she spent six weeks in a physical rehab facility to regain her strength. During this stay, the pandemic began here in Virginia, so she wasn’t able to receive visitors after a certain time. This didn’t stop her from continuing forward. Upon her discharge, her son stayed with her to take care of her from that point forward. She regained most of her pre-hospital stay strength and was able to live several years with relative comfort and happiness as the dementia slowly took a firm hold. As her condition advanced to late stages of dementia, a few things are for certain. She never forgot who she was. She never forgot who her son was. She never stopped being a fighter. Just ask anyone who knew her in memory care of the nursing home.

Although dementia is a horrible disease, those who suffer from it can sometimes do and say some funny things, which helps to make the awful situation a little more bearable. Some of Diane’s common phrases were: “cucumbers!,” “Uncle Bob”, “(so and so) from Pittsburgh,” “How ya doin,’ sis?,” and her son’s favorite, “I love you so much, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Diane’s memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.

Services will be held at Woody Funeral Home, Parham Rd. on Friday, Feb 7, 2025 from 3 until 5 pm. Church services will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 5:30.

In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations in honor of their loved one.

Arrangements were in care of Woody Funeral Home, Richmond, Va.

Originally published February 08, 2025.

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