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They met in August 1971, were engaged by October, and married on January 15, 1972, beginning a partnership that spanned more than 54 joyful years.\n\nDiane was industrious and quick to volunteer her time and talents. Over the years, she worked in the respiratory therapy department at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem and with Forsyth County Schools, helping to put her husband through law school. She later worked as a legal secretary and ultimately became a North Carolina Board Certified Paralegal with the offices of Richard D. Sparkman & Associates. The role she relished most, however, was being a mother—and she excelled at it.\n\nShe was full of warmth and laughter—vibrant, affectionate, and deeply good. She possessed a strong sense of justice and a moral compass that pointed true north. She loved reading, especially oceanside in a rocking chair; baking lopsided cakes that tasted like heaven; laughing until she sprang a leak; and taking long walks at a pace that had everyone else jogging to keep up. She never believed herself to be anyone extraordinary, but to us, she was everything. \n\nDiane is survived by her husband, Richard, and her daughter, Emily Dianne Sparkman, both of Holly Springs, North Carolina; four nieces, three nephews, one great-niece, three great-nephews; special cousin, Norma Jane Gray; and special sister-in-law, Donna London. She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved brother, Robert Gary Averitte; and her little dog, Dexter.\n\nA memorial service will be held on May 31, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Guests are invited to wear an item in Diane's favorite color, red. The family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and Transitions LifeCare.  \n\nHeartfelt thanks are extended to Patricia, Pam, Hope, and Mariea of BrightStar of Cary for their attentive and compassionate care."}},"city":"Holly Springs","state":"North Carolina","deathdate":"2026-05-01","age":76,"image":{"localFile":{"publicURL":"/static/90992663b09f924532bf1ec252d140a4/object_Object_17b36e3cc6.jpeg"}}},"services":{"edges":[{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Direct Cremation","slug":"cremation","path":"/services/cremation","icon":"icons/icon-urn.svg","price":"$1196.75","blurb":"Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here. We include everything you need for a simple or direct cremation. Simple, affordable and reliable. We have not changed the cost of our direct cremation service since we opened City of Oaks in 2012."},"excerpt":"Direct or Simple Cremation $1196.75 When calling another funeral home to compare cost, it is important to ask how much the total invoice…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Solidified Remains","slug":"Cremation with Solidified Remains","path":"/services/cremation-with-solidified-remains","icon":"icons/icon-stones.svg","price":"$2875.66","blurb":"We offer the option of choosing how you receive your loved ones remains. Selecting our Direct Cremation with Solidified Remains option is a beautiful way to transform cremated remains into 40-60 “stones” that you can hold."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Solidified Remains $2875.66 City of Oaks Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with the service of transforming…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Visitation","slug":"cremation & visitation","path":"/services/cremation-with-visitation","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$1917.84","blurb":"City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation. Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here.  Simple, affordable and reliable."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Visitation $1917.84 City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cremation with Private Family Viewing","slug":"private viewing cremation","path":"/services/cremation-with-private-family-viewing","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$1596.75","blurb":"City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation with a private family viewing. A private family viewing allows up to 10 immediate family members or friends to spend time with a loved one when a public visitation is not preferred."},"excerpt":"Cremation with Private Family Viewing $1596.75 City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Immediate Burial","slug":"burial","path":"/services/burial","icon":"icons/icon-grave-flowers.svg","price":"$2497.50","blurb":"An immediate burial has the same end result as a traditional burial; however, we have eliminated the extra (sometimes unnecessary) services prior to getting to the cemetery. Not everyone wants an open casket for viewing or a limousine for the family. Despite the term immediate, we can move as fast as you need or as slow as you like. This option simply allows you to save money by eliminating some of the fancy extras at the funeral home."},"excerpt":"Immediate Burial $2497.50 An Immediate Burial is when the body is taken directly from the place of death (or from the morgue) to the…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Traditional Funeral","slug":"funeral","path":"/services/funeral","icon":"icons/icon-podium.svg","price":"$6081.48","blurb":"We offer the same traditional funeral services as the big corporately owned funeral homes in the area; however, we cost about half the amount. You might consider a traditional funeral service if your family is looking for an open casket visitation, a traditional church service or a funeral service in the funeral home's chapel. A traditional funeral service can be altered to fit the needs of your family."},"excerpt":"Traditional Funeral Service $6081.48 City of Oaks Funeral Home is a wise choice for families that desire to honor their loved one with time…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Alkaline Hydrolysis","slug":"alkaline-hydrolysis","path":"/services/alkaline-hydrolysis","icon":"icons/icon-urn.svg","price":"$2640.59","blurb":"As an alternative to traditional cremation, City of Oaks Funeral Home offers Alkaline Hydrolysis. The Alkaline Hydrolysis process uses a solution of water and potassium hydroxide to facilitate natural decomposition."},"excerpt":"Alkaline Hydrolysis $2640.59 As an alternative to traditional cremation, City of Oaks Funeral Home offers Alkaline Hydrolysis.\nThe Alkaline…"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Green Burial","slug":"green burial","path":"/services/green-burial","icon":"icons/icon-grave-flowers-green.svg","price":"$3033.75","blurb":"This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral service by the Green Burial Council; a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization working to encourage environmentally sustainability in the field of funeral service. Our Green options allow for a funeral to take place without the use of toxic and non-biodegradable materials/chemicals."},"excerpt":"Green Burial $3033.75 This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral…"}}]},"cities":{"edges":[{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Apex","path":"/city/apex"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Apex.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Asheville","path":"/city/asheville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Asheville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Cary","path":"/city/cary"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Cary.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Chapel Hill","path":"/city/chapelhill"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Chapel Hill.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Clayton","path":"/city/clayton"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Clayton.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Durham","path":"/city/durham"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Durham.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Creedmoor","path":"/city/creedmoor"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Creedmoor.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Fayetteville","path":"/city/fayetteville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Fayetteville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Four Oaks","path":"/city/fouroaks"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Four Oaks.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Fuquay-Varina","path":"/city/fuquay-varina"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Fuquay Varina.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Franklinton","path":"/city/franklinton"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Franklinton.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Garner","path":"/city/garner"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Garner.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Goldsboro","path":"/city/goldsboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Goldsboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Henderson","path":"/city/henderson"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Henderson.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Hillsborough","path":"/city/hillsborough"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Hillsborough.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Knightdale","path":"/city/knightdale"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Knightdale.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Holly Springs","path":"/city/hollysprings"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Holly Springs.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Louisburg","path":"/city/louisburg"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Louisburg.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Morrisville","path":"/city/morrisville"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Morrisville.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Raleigh","path":"/city/raleigh"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Raleigh.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Pittsboro","path":"/city/pittsboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Pittsboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Rocky Mount","path":"/city/rockymount"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Rocky Mount.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Roxboro","path":"/city/roxboro"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Roxboro.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Smithfield","path":"/city/smithfield"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Smithfield.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Selma","path":"/city/selma"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Selma.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Wake Forest","path":"/city/wakeforest"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Wake Forest.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Wendell","path":"/city/wendell"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Wendell.md"}},{"node":{"frontmatter":{"title":"Zebulon","path":"/city/zebulon"},"fileAbsolutePath":"/home/runner/work/oaks2/oaks2/content/cities/Zebulon.md"}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":"79dadc51-6d9f-5098-aee7-ee4994acef61"}},
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