EMERALD ISLE  -  Diann McCormick, 76, of Emerald Isle and Key West, FL, received her own "Angel Wings" on January 9, 2025, for a final journey to join the love of her life who departed January 17, 2021.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 24, 2025 at St. Mildred Catholic Church with Rev. Dave Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Seaside Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Thursday evening, January 23, 2025 at Jones Funeral Home, Swansboro Chapel.

Diann was born to the late Stanley "Stosh" Miscichowski and Evelyn Bury Miscichowski on March 5, 1948, in Waukegan, IL. She was raised in North Chicago, where her adventurous spirit and kind heart began to shine.

Diann earned a job as the manager of a record store in North Chicago shortly after graduating high school.  At 19, she embarked on a life-changing solo road trip to Florida in her brand-new dark blue 1967 4-speed Impala, a journey that marked the beginning of her incredible love story.  While visiting a friend at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Diann met Dan McCormick who was within two weeks of earning his first set of wings as a Marine Aviator. Just six weeks from the day they met, Diann and Dan were wed, starting a 53-year marriage filled with unwavering devotion and love.

Shortly after their wedding, Dan was deployed to Vietnam and the couple exchanged daily letters chronicling hundreds of helicopter combat missions and planning their future together. Diann's resilience and love were evident as she built a life and home while supporting Dan's Marine Corps career.

In 1970, Diann and Dan purchased their first home in Emerald Isle, NC, where they planted roots. A most loving wife and mother, Diann devoted herself to supporting her family while fully focused as a homemaker making home, home.  In 1982, Diann helped build the family businesses, Century 21 Coastland Realty and Olympic Developers, greatly contributing to their second retirement.

In the late 90's, the couple found a second home in Key West, FL where they spent much of the last two decades doing what they loved best—being around good friends and family and getting out on the water. Their days there were spent fishing and entertaining. Diann was Dan's most cherished first mate.  When not tending to the home, Diann was tending to the boat while her "man" spent hours in the water diving for lobster.

Diann loved loving.  In addition to being known as a deeply proud wife and mother, she had a reputation for having "never met a stranger." Diann's warmth and hospitality are legendary, as she was quick to open her doors and embrace new friends. Diann was selfless, always caring for others first and making them feel at home.

It was very tough for Diann when Dan got what she referred to as his final set of wings, his "Angel Wings."  Diann seemed to somehow keep Dan alive as rarely a conversation would ever pass without mention of her "man."

Just days before her unexpected passing, Diann expressed a desire to watch the 1970 film, Love Story, commenting that a book should be written about her and Dan's own remarkable story.

Diann loved to love.

Diann was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dan McCormick; her parents, Stanley "Stosh" & Evelyn Miscichowski; brother Eugene Miscichowski; her father- and mother-in-law, Barney & Eileen McCormick; her brothers-in-law, Mark McCormick, Mike McCormick, Steve Gregory, Kenny Larson, Brian Phillips, Gary Ellis; and her sister-in-law, Patty Steinberg.

She is survived by her sons, Dan McCormick II (Sonya) of Raleigh and Dean McCormick (Lisa) of North Topsail Beach; her grandchildren, Elaina, Daniel III, Charlotte, and Meriel; sisters Linda Miscichowski Larson (IL), Shirley Miscichowski Ellis (TN), Carolyn "Sis" Phillips (AZ), Mary "Doats" (Craig) Kantenwein (IL), Terese McCormick (AZ) and Mary Radtke McCormick (MN); brothers, Stanley "Butch" Miscichowski (IL) and Doug McCormick (IA); and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to tunnel2towers.org and stjude.org.