Diane Barbara Thorngren of Port Charlotte, Fla., and formerly of North Stonington, Conn., departed this world and entered heaven Monday, Dec. 31, 2012.

She was the daughter of Bill and Avis (nee Skillings) Taylor of Brockton, Mass.

Married to her husband, retired U.S. Coast Guard CWO4 Oke S. Thorngren Jr., they spent 49 happy years in marriage. Together they graduated from Brockton High School in 1962, and spent 31 years relocating as Oke served our Nation. Their duty stations included Boston, Mass.; Governors Island, N.Y.; Woods Hole, Mass.; Miami, Fla.; Honolulu, Hawaii, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Diane loved the Coast Guard as much as her husband. Oke was immensely proud of his military accomplishments and looked forward to the Coast Guard reunions that they attended. Diane was very proud that all of her three sons and her daughter-in-law, Margie, had served in the military as well. She was always active in her children’s lives as a den mother, roller-dance enthusiast, soccer mom and school volunteer; she worked hard to help support her family. Diane was an accomplished professional seamstress, a real estate agent, a pricer for the U.S. Navy Exchange System, and the manager of a bowling alley. She did not slow down when she and Oke retired to Port Charlotte. Diane was an avid reader and pet lover; her dachshunds, Angel and Shadow, miss her. She enjoyed playing cards with her friends, and had participated in the Charlotte Harbor Dragon Boat Races. She and Oke were baseball fans, and were, for several years, ticket-holders for the Rays spring training season. Diane was a source of strength for her entire family. The compassion, love and pragmatism that she gave us will be missed dearly. We pray that we will use the strength that she has given us to live the lives that she has wanted for us. In her final battle, she taught us an important lesson on how to embrace and cherish every last bit of life. Diane never gave up; she was strong, loving and caring up to the very end. We pray that we will always remember this about her.

She is survived by her husband, Oke S. Thorngren Jr.; her three sons, Oke R. (Denny) Thorngren, Craig W. (Margie) Thorngren and Chris T. (Adam Slater) Thorngren; three grandsons, Oke William Christen Thorngren, Ernest R. (Sheree Rogers) Thorngren and Michael T. Thorngren; great-granddaughter, Kimora M. Thorngren; brother, Bill Taylor; sister, Roberta (Mark) Thomas; sisters-in-law, Linda (Howard) Puffer and Lorraine George; aunts; cousins; and her nieces and nephews. Diane was preceded in death by her sister, Laurie Thompson.

Diane’s love and devotion to Oke and her family was inspiring and uplifting — she was a loving mother and a proud grandmother. We pray that the memory of her love and devotion will in time turn our sorrow and despair into an even more loving and caring family.

Attentively, a Celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 14, 2013, at Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home, 2405 Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte. Please visit the online tribute for Diane Barbara Thorngren at www.kays-ponger.com.

Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Port Charlotte Chapel.