Diane Elizabeth Francom Christiansen

On Monday, February 5, 2024, soft drops of rain fell from the sky, bathing the earth and blending in with tears of joy and sadness as a beautiful angel slipped out of this world and into the next. As that sweet angel Diane Elizabeth Christiansen - who loved so deeply and fiercely - left her mortal body through which were created her greatest loves and through which she gave so much to this world, she was untethered.  Her angel spirit - as she was surrounded by the loving embraces of her family - passed from this life into the next.

Her parents William and Edith Francom welcomed our sweet angel wife and mother into this world on October 17, 1948.  The fourth of seven children, she had a great love for her parents and her siblings and she made sure to frequently let them know this.  She helped care for them whenever the need arose and she was able.

She married her high school sweetheart Clay Christiansen in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where they were sealed together for time and all eternity on July 12, 1968.  She loved him, supported him and was always faithful to him.  She was so proud of his accomplishments as an organist for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and helped him know he could do anything.

She was an amazing mom who was featured in the magazine First for Women in an article titled "America's Moms."  She had 13 children -- 8 daughters and 5 sons.  She adored them and loved to spend any time she could get with them, especially going on vacations, to parks, the zoo and going shopping, sledding and watching movies.  Her older children remember her playing tag with the neighborhood kids and having snowball fights.  One or two of the snowballs may have hit the window of a church meeting her husband was attending that had carried on a bit too long.

She was a mother to everyone -- not just children of her own.  To anyone who needed a mom, both young and old, her door was always open.  While her oldest son Clay Jr. was serving on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of his converts moved to Utah and reached out to mom for advice on where to stay.  When mom offered her home, he responded with, "You know I'm black, don't you?" to which she responded, "What the hell difference does that make?!"

She was the giver of the greatest gift -- unconditional love.  She had a purity and depth of love and empathy that always won in the end.  She always apologized to her children when needed, teaching them to do the same.  Her children always knew she loved them and would love them no matter what they did or how they were.  She brought her children's spouses in as her own and did her best to make sure they were always fairly listened to, fairly included and that they knew they were seen as her children.

She dearly loved her 62 grandchildren and was so lit up by spending time with each of them!  When her health permitted, she never passed up an opportunity to go to the zoo, Disneyland, the store, the park, or watch a movie with them. Each of them had a dear place in her heart.

Mom loved to give thoughtful gifts and was a really great cook.  Her heart was given in every gift she gave and every meal she cooked.  She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice.  She was an incredible artist and seamstress who had a great eye for design and fashion.

She could always tell a great story and entertain people for hours. Such a jokester, her stories were often littered with humor!  She always had time for what was most important -- people.  Many of these gifts she passed to her children and grandchildren.

She was a healer.  She made many meals and helped to care for and heal many people.  Ahead of her time, she was passionate about health and learned everything she could about it.  She wanted to heal the world, so she influenced and touched many lives!

Her spirit couldn't be tamed.  She was a rebel in the very best way. She never just conformed to what everyone else was doing, but did what she knew was right.  She always spoke her mind and showed her children they could do the same.  Mom looked beyond material desires and saw what was most important -- love.  She loved her Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ and had unshakeable faith in them. Her faith could move mountains!  She was very spiritual and influenced the world profoundly with her love and faith.  She continues to spread her love and light through her spirit and her posterity.  Because of her legacy, her loving influence will continue to grow and spread forever.

She leaves behind her beloved husband Clay Rellus Christiansen, Sr. and her beautiful children Clay (Kathy) Christiansen, Elizabeth (Mark) Anderson, Laura (Steve) Palmer, Michelle Mazerolle, Carolee (Dan) Thaxton, Marylee (deceased), William (Kathryn) Christiansen, John Christiansen, Rowland (Elizabeth) Christiansen, Elise (Dan) Gange, Maren (Matthew) Bake, David (Sara) Christiansen and Kristina (Adam) Gange.

Her darling grandchildren: Kimberly (Yves), Alexis (Daniel), Austin (Becca), Gabriella (Austin), Wyatt and Moroni Christiansen; Christine (Jordan), Benjamin, Daniel, Rachael, Jonathan, Isaac, Hannah, William and Grace Anderson; Olivia (Caleb), Sophia, Eliza, and Lila Ward; Parker, Sophie, Ella and Berkeley Mazerolle; Marylee, Sarah, Dan Jr. (deceased), Matthew, Isabella (deceased), Levi, Joseph, Brigham and Faith Thaxton; Ashley (Austin), William (Alaska), Gideon (stillborn), Alicia, April and Alayna Christiansen; Cayla, John Jr., Christopher, Clark, Macy and Margaret Christiansen; Madison Christiansen; Daniel Jr., Samuel, Belle, Michael and Clay Gange; Isabella, Roselia, Matthew, Diana, Elliana, Maxwell and Evangelina Bake; Ella, Eva, and Linkon Christiansen; Lucas and Arwen Gange.

Her sweet great grandchildren: Macilyn, Israel, Anthony, Iris, Liberty, Jackie, Suzy, Brooklyn, Lila, Rose, Cole, Brayden and James.

Her parents: William and Edith Francom (deceased); Father and Mother-in-law Rellus and Lila Christiansen (deceased).

Her siblings: Judith (Larry) Urry (deceased), William (deceased) (Kay) Francom, Rowland (Chris) Francom, Middy (Scott) Follett, Robert (Ann) Francom and Richard (Viviana) Francom.

Her husband's siblings: Marilyn (Dean) Halling, Jane Peterson, Debbie (Tom) Carley and Brenda Christiansen (deceased).

A special thanks to the doctors who attended to her, including Dr. Bruce Hunter, Dr. Bryce Peterson, Dr. Amy Powell and Dr. William Spiker and also to the loving care she received near the end of her life through South Davis Home Hospice from Caigen, Pross, Wendy and Maria.

Viewings  
Monday, February 12, 6:30-8:30 pm at Russon Mortuary 295 N. Main, Bountiful, Utah; Tuesday, February 13, 9:30-10:30 am at Bountiful Second Ward Chapel 650 S. 200 E.

Funeral
Tuesday, February 13, 11:00 am at Bountiful Second Ward Chapel 650 S. 200 E.

Burial following at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Dr., Bountiful.

Services will be streamed live on Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and this obituary page.