Kathleen Diane Greenaway

Kathleen Diane Greenaway, born October 27, 1942, left this earth after her courageous battle with blood cancer on January 8, 2025. She lived a full life and successfully wore many hats, ranging from respected and caring social worker, teacher, mentor and leadership coach to much loved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, Noni, great grandmother and treasured friend. Most importantly, she was the cherished wife to the love of her life, the late Henry Morquecho. Diane died peacefully in her home surrounded by family. She leaves her family and loved ones bereft but grateful for the years they got to spend time with this generous, smart, thoughtful and endlessly curious woman. A lifelong learner, she was a voracious reader, music lover and an avid follower of current affairs who devoted her life to advocacy and community. She kept her mind sharp with endless games of Scrabble, Mahjong, golf lessons in Delaware Park, and countless dance parties to Elvis songs. She was an incredible writer, and a firm believer in setting the table! There was no challenge she wouldnt tackle, even if the prospect terrified her, such as teaching in Uganda for six months, an experience that profoundly changed the way she viewed the world and the way she lived in it. She was game for travel anywhere and doing anything that sounded like an experience. Her passion for fighting hunger and poverty led her to become a volunteer and donor with Heifer International. At one point, she took her granddaughter Jessica to Albania and Kosovo to see how the charity passed on the gift of animals to communities in remote areas. Diane explored everything from "soul collaging" to living a life more in harmony with the planet. A born storyteller, Diane could always make a long story longer by joyously poking fun at herself along the way. She was an avid fan of Country and Western music largely because the songs almost always told a story. She learned to golf well, and she swallowed her nerves to ride across craggy rocks and lakes on her nephews zip line in Nelson. B.C. After being freed from the zip line harness, she stopped shaking long enough to declare: "Well, its not my strength." Her family teased her with that line many times afterwards, and Diane, never one to miss a beat, reprised it as her health began failing. "Dependency is not my strength," she expressed one day with a wee smile. Born Kathleen Diane Greenaway in Camrose, Alberta in 1942, the first child of the late Ruth (nee Neville) and Norman Edward (Ted) Greenaway. The oldest of seven children, Diane spent most of her growing up years in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. She graduated from Sion Academy and attended the University of Saskatchewan for one year before moving to Toronto where she completed her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Social Work at the University of Toronto,and worked as a social worker before moving to Buffalo, New York. Diane spent the rest of her career with Catholic Charities where she supervised the West Side Family Counseling Center, the School Dropout Program and Early School Intervention Services. She then became the Department Director for Metropolitan Community Services - the largest division of Catholic Charities. Throughout her career, Diane was instrumental in developing the family therapy training program at Catholic Charities for in-house staff that was so well-regarded that many professionals from outside the agency sought to enroll in the training program. Her work essentially elevated Catholic Charities into a clinical and professional organization that provided cutting edge treatments for families. Diane Greenaway also taught at University of Buffalo School of Social Work, influencing countless social work practitioners throughout the community. Her reputation in the social work community is stellar. Diane was a fierce social justice activist and served on several justice committees, living her commitment to protecting and enhancing human rights for all people. She believed that every human on this earth deserved a voice and a fair chance at life. From knitting shawls with her prayer group to her work with RCIA, Diane never stopped devoting her time to others. Dianes dear friends were of utmost importance to her, and she cherished every moment she spent with them. She will be deeply missed by her siblings, daughters, sons in law, grandchildren, great grandchildren and her many devoted friends. She leaves her daughters; Renee Thorson (Rob), Lise Leahy (John) and Gabrielle Morquecho (Rafael Mercado); grand-children; Jessica Ammersen (Tara), Trenton Thorsen (Anna), Patrick Leahy, Michael Leahy, Joshua Mercado (Cindy), Tyler Mercado, and Jessica Mercado; great grandchildren Elliott and Easton Ammersen, James Mercado and Stevie Thorsen. Diane predeceased her six siblings; Rob Greenaway (Mary Lynne Meschino), Terry Preston (Gordon McIntyre), Norma Greenaway (Peter Watson), Mary Manton (John), Sheila Margellos (George) and Dorothy Greenaway (Bruce Hadden); nephews; Lee Preston, Jay Manton (Caroline), Todd Manton (Bailly Keith), Martin Greenaway (Sara Hughes) and niece, Claire Greenaway and grand- nieces; Hailey Greenaway and Paige Manton. Kathleen Diane Greenaway wasnt perfect but she came darn close. May she rest in well-earned peace. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Greenaway Womens Empowerment Endowment at the Heifer Foundation, contact "April" at (833)-904-4483. Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 1 PM 4 PM at the Burchfield Penney Art Center SUNY Buffalo State University 1300 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14222 Parking is available and is free of charge.