Diane Alsatia (Lloyd) Hamelin

She was preceded in death by her brother, T.W. “Tim” Lloyd Jr.

Diane was a 1963 graduate of Altoona High School.

She dedicated her early life to being a wife and stay at home mother, investing time and energy in her sons’ concerts, football games and participation in church activities. She was a party planner by nature. The highlight of each year was a Christmas Eve gathering with meatball sandwiches and a wide open door. Central to this were multiple story-of-Christmas skits that she wrote each year starring her grandchildren and great-grandchildren so that Christ was proclaimed in her family and her neighborhood.

She is survived by her husband of 20 years, James Patrick “Jimpa” Hamelin. They were married in Florida, but they lived most of their life together in Arizona in order to be near her family.

Diane was first married to Franklin Eugene Lamca and had three sons, all now living in Arizona: Dr. Franklin John “Chip” Lamca and his wife, Julie Beck, and their children: Bryan (Erica) and their three daughters; Matthew (Sara) and their son; Katherine Pollard (Tyler) and their daughter; and Thomas (LaRisa) and their three sons; Eric Brian and Lupe Villalone and their sons: George (Alyssa) and their two daughters; and Brandon; and Bradley Scott and Desiree Braund and their children: Summer Nihi (Ikaika), Hunter and Caleb.

Two granddaughters and four great-granddaughters are named Alsatia in honor of Diane.

In the second part of her life, she went to work as a teacher’s aide in the Orlando metro area, where she combined her love for art with compassion for children with special needs and as a job coach. She was honored in 2006 by the Seminole County Florida School District as the Employee of the Year.

A memorial service was conducted at Axiom Church in Peoria, Ariz., by the Rev. Dr. Paul Sorensen.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, any donations be directed to Hospice of the Valley (HOV.org).