FORT EDWARD --- Diane M. Gates, 69, of Lamplighter Acres, Ft. Edward, passed away Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 at Glens Falls Hospital.
Born March 7, 1943 in Glens Falls, she was the daughter of the late Loren and Josephine (Marino) LaFay.
Diane worked for many years as a restaurant manager in the Glens Falls and Lake George area.
She loved spending winters in Florida and in recent years, going to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
As an avid reader, Diane enjoyed mostly best sellers and autobiographies.
With her outgoing personality, bright smile, and ready wit, she was good company and acquired many loving friendships. She was a beautiful person.
When in Florida, Diane was employed at a busy IHOP restaurant, working along her two great friends, Cee-Cee and Gloria. Diane had a lot of laughs and truly enjoyed her job.
She loved going to the casinos in Atlantic City and Biloxi, Mississippi with her friends; rarely winning, but always having a great time.
Di also enjoyed coddling and roughhousing the family pet, "Baxter," a large yellow lab.
Di loved young children, with a special fondness for small boys, always smiling at all small children. As for the boys, well, she had four boys herself whom she loved very much, always worrying and praying for them.
Di was always a worrier about her four siblings as well, Jo, Dar, David, and Steve. She was always concerned about their health and welfare. She worried to a fault.
After she retired, she would spend several hours a week helping her sons and former husband, Jack Gates, with the bookkeeping at Jack's Bistro on Upper Glen St. She had a talent for decorating and loved the holidays and the decoration of the restaurant.
Survivors include her longtime companion and love of her life, Jack Moore; her former husband and father of their four boys, John "Jack" Gates, who remained her dear friend until the end; her four sons, Peter Gates and his two children, her grandchildren, Jeremiah and Rebecca, John Gates and his wife, Kelly, David Gates, and Christian Gates; her extended family, Michele (Moore) LaFasciano, her husband, Andy, and their two boys, Andrew and Anthony, all of Queensbury; two sisters, JoAnn DeChants and her husband, Richard, and Darlene Smith and her husband, Gary; two brothers, Stephen LaFay and his wife, JoAnn, and David LaFay and his wife, Gina; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
At her request, there will be no calling hours.
A Mass will be celebrated Friday Oct. 5, at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Church, Warren St., Glens Falls.
A gathering to celebrate Di's life will take place Sunday, Oct. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Jack's Bistro, 730 Upper Glen St., Queensbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in loving memory of Di, to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 125 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY 12205.
The family would like to thank everyone for the many cards and thoughtful gifts while she was a patient in the hospital, with special thanks expressed to the nursing staff on the critical care floor.
Condolences may be mailed to Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or e-mailed through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.