Diana D. (Matzulis) Laurenti

Diana D. (Matzulis) Laurenti 1938-2021. Affectionately called “DD” by her husband, Diana, 82, went home to be with Louis on May 6th, 2021 after a short illness. Born on October 6th, 1938 to the late Sotir Matzulis and Kaliroo Terpini, she was raised in Akron and attended Central High School. After graduation, she began working at General Tire. Diana met Louis (Louie) in the spring of 1968 and they were married that fall.

Before having their daughters, Louie and DD enjoyed golf, bowling, and playing cards. They traveled together to Jamestown, NY for long weekend vacations. While their daughters were growing up, they went camping on weekends during the summers, joining other family members at Lake Pymatuning (Ashtabula County). Other weekends were spent with her Greek church family at a private picnic grounds in Copley Township, celebrating her Albanian and Greek heritage. Diana enjoyed attending their swim meets and soccer games, but Friday high school football games were her passion watching her girls perform in the marching band. She was a band parent volunteer that did her fair share of uniform repair, using her talents as a seamstress both in the uniform room and on the sidelines.

After Louie passed, Diana spent time with many friends and family hiking the trails in the Summit County Metro Parks and the Stark County Parks. She enjoyed cross word, word search and jigsaw puzzles, as well as going on “one tank trips” with her sister in laws and other friends to explore parts of Ohio. Diana moved to North Canton in 2002 to be closer to her daughters. Her greatest joy were her grandchildren, she enjoyed cheering for Olivia and Christian at swim meets, listening to Olivia sing at church and school choir, watching Christian march for the Jackson High School Purple Army, Alexander playing youth football, baseball, and basketball.

Diana is preceded in death by her parents, her brother William (Billy) and her beloved husband Louis, brothers-in-law Paul Laurenti, John Laurenti and sister-in-law Fran (Herman) Prebynski. She is survived by her daughters Christine (Domenic) Ferrante and Billie Kay (Charles Mashburn) Laurenti, as well as her grandchildren Olivia & Christian Ferrante and Alexander Mashburn. Along with Jane, Pat, Sam (Nancy) Laurenti, Linda (Ralph) Miller, Takako Laurenti along with many nieces and nephews. She will be missed for her quiet ways, card playing skills and fun conversations. A private ceremony will be held for the family. 

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road  Akron, OH  44333.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.