Diane Serakos Burgess passed away peacefully on February 7, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born Diane Maurine Hines on November 27, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, to Glenn Wallace Hines and Maurine Hines, Diane lived a life defined by resilience, reinvention, generosity, laughter, and deep devotion to family and community.

She graduated from Western Michigan University and began her professional life as a Home Economics teacher. She taught until the birth of her first daughter, Kristin (1968), and two years later welcomed her second daughter, Tracy (1970). She embraced motherhood with the same energy and dedication that would define every chapter of her life.

In February 1976, Diane moved to San Diego with her husband at the time, Leo Serakos, and daughters Kristin and Tracy. Rancho Bernardo became her cherished home for the next 50 years. An entrepreneur at heart, she co-owned and operated Bernardo Flooring with Leo and played an instrumental role in the early development of the Rancho Bernardo community.

In 1988, Diane embarked on a new career path and joined the Rancho Bernardo law firm Walters and Ward as office manager, where she discovered her aptitude for trust administration. Her intelligence, conscientiousness, and compassion led her into trustee work, where she became a trusted steward of families' financial and personal legacies.

Soon after, Diane transitioned into real estate while continuing her trustee work. For more than 20 years, she specialized in the Eastview neighborhood of Rancho Bernardo. She welcomed people into the community, and her deep knowledge of Eastview, along with her gift for connection, made her a respected and beloved presence.

Diane has been deeply involved in the Rancho Bernardo community, cultivating lifelong friendships. An ardent sports fan, she and Leo held season tickets to the San Diego Chargers for more than 20 years, enjoying pre-game tailgating with a wide circle of friends. She played in local softball leagues, was active in the Junior League, and later served as a board member within the Eastview Community. She enjoyed her "stretch class," her book club, and long lunches with friends. Diane was always a hostess at heart—her home open, warm, and welcoming. It was a place filled with laughter, lively conversation, music, and, of course, wine and popcorn.

Over the years, Diane developed a professional partnership and friendship with Bill Burgess. What began as a working real estate relationship grew steadily into deep companionship and love, and they married on February 11, 2025. Bill was an adoring and devoted husband who brought tremendous joy, steadiness, and peace into Diane's life. He lovingly cared for her through the challenges of her health journey, especially managing her complex diabetes following her 2023 surgery. His daily presence, attentiveness, and unwavering support allowed her to continue living fully. They especially enjoyed watching the Padres and getaway trips to beautiful Palm Desert. They cherished each other, and their marriage was a blessing in her final chapter—especially when they adopted their precious Maltipoo, Peaches, in January 2025.

All who knew Diane understood the profound pride and happiness that being a Mom—and later a "Grammy" and "Dommy"—brought her. She adored her daughters and her four granddaughters and celebrated each of them wholeheartedly—attending milestones, cheering accomplishments, and offering constant love, guidance and encouragement. Being the family matriarch was among the greatest joys of her life.

Diane's life was also marked by extraordinary resilience and courage. In 2017, she underwent a major Whipple procedure to remove a pancreatic growth. In 2023, she faced another surgery to remove her pancreas, resulting in a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Through treatment and careful diabetes management, she continued to live fully and joyfully, supported by her family, friends, and dedicated medical team.

She is survived by her loving husband, Bill Burgess; her daughters, Kristin Harris and her husband, Ronnie Harris, and Tracy Garza and her husband, Jesse Garza; her granddaughters, Ayden Belsky Morris (Mitch Morris), Reyna Belsky, Shaylee Garza, and Camryn Garza; her sister, Miriam Whitehead of Joliet, Illinois; and her brother, Thomas Hines and his wife, Ester Hines, of Vista, California. Since 1976, she was also a devoted dog mom to Dolly, Peewee, Becky, Zoe, Hershey, Mocha, and Callie—and to Peaches, who lovingly ushered her to her final breath.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn Wallace Hines and Maurine Hines; and by her former husbands, Leo Serakos and Terry Anderson.

A public Service of Remembrance will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Bartholomew's Church in Poway, California, with a private Celebration of Life to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Diane's memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation , St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , the American Cancer Society , or The Elizabeth Hospice .